KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby has announced an increase in the annual divisional allocation for councillors as he criticised several Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors for what he described as poor attendance at meetings of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

Speaking at the annual Vineyard Town Divisional Conference on Friday at Excelsior Community College, Swaby said each division will receive $13 million this financial year, up from the previous $10 million. He stressed that the additional funding is intended specifically to address road repairs.

“Each division will receive an allocation of $13 million, up from $10 million. It’s nothing that the councillor gets in his or her hand and it’s not just to give away. It has to deal with roads, Christmas work, mitigation and other community needs,” he said.

Swaby explained that councillors are required to consult with their communities before deciding how the funds are spent and noted that the increase was granted solely to address road infrastructure.

The mayor also responded to criticism that the increase falls short of commitments previously made while he served as Minority Leader at the KSAMC. He argued that his administration first had to address significant outstanding financial obligations inherited from the previous JLP administration.

Swaby said his administration was left with unpaid bills, including approximately $164 million in retention payments, limiting its ability to increase the allocation sooner.

“I could have increased the divisional allocation fund, but I had to settle the thing. Even though it is not fully settled, I now have a little room that I can wiggle with, so we talked about an increase,” he said.

He also accused one JLP councillor of supporting the increase during council deliberations before later criticising it publicly in pursuit of what he believes to be political advantage.

Swaby used the occasion to defend his administration’s record, describing it as one of the most transparent in the history of the KSAMC. He said contracts are published on the corporation’s website, audit reports are shared with an advisory committee and a panel has been established to review the development approval process.

The mayor further expressed concern that several JLP councillors have not been attending council and committee meetings, arguing that their absence is affecting the work of the municipality.

Swaby also criticised the previous administration for failing to respond to questions raised in council, noting that some queries dating back to 2017 remain unanswered. He pledged that historic administration would continue to respond to questions in a timely manner.

He said the People’s National Party-led administration has prioritised transparency, public engagement, bipartisan cooperation and collaboration with government agencies to improve governance at the KSAMC.