WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Three of four councillors within the Westmoreland Western constituency have resigned from the People’s National Party (PNP).

Councillor for the Little London Division, Ian Myles; councillor for the Grange Hill Division, Lawton McKenzie; and Garfield James, who is the councillor for the Sheffield Division, announced their resignation at a press conference held at the Hotel Commingle in Savanna-la-Mar on Monday morning.

Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Bertel Moore, who is the councillor for the Negril Division and was expected to be a part of the caucus of councillors, did not show up.

The resignation by the councillors is a fallout from the party’s decision to allow the party’ vice president Ian Hayles to offer himself as a constituency caretaker aspirant despite opposition.

READ: ‘We are not going to be stuck with Ian Hayles’

Myles and McKenzie had supported James in his bid to become the constituency caretaker. Jame withdrew from the internal vote to select the party’s parliamentary candidate for Westmoreland Western, alleging irregularities with the delegates’ list. That left the way clear for Hayles, who was subsequently selected during an internal election by delegates in the constituency on Sunday June 4.

However, the councillors have reiterated a statement they made in the past that they will not be working with Ian Hayles.

The group said they had three meetings with the hierarchy of the party where they all voiced their concerns but this fell on deaf ears.

James said the public should not blame them as they were forced to do what they did as a result of the actions of the party.

The councillors said they will continue to serve the people who elected them by remaining as independent councillors.

Anthony Lewis.