SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine — The fallout continues from Councillor William Cytall’s decision, last month, to cross the floor of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.

Elected on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket to represent the Troja Division, Cytall has now been given the green light, by the corporation’s Chairman Norman Scott (People’s National Party, Greendale Division) to serve on PNP-led committees.

Those committees have oversight for public health and commercial services. Cytall had previously represented the JLP on the public health committee and minority leader Councillor Lloyd Grant (JLP, Old Harbour South Division), had written to Mayor Scott asking that Cytall be removed as he no longer represents the JLP.

Scott’s decision to appoint Cytall to the two committees was questioned by Deputy Mayor Ralston Wilson (PNP, Ginger Ridge Division) who said changes to committees were generally done in August.

However, Scott said his actions had been guided by the law.

“The by-laws say the mayor has the authority to do such a thing. It can be done at any time if one year has passed since the election of the council,” he said.

Cytall, a sometimes-controversial councillor, was sidelined by the JLP which cited “a lack of performance” for its decision not to allow him to represent the party when the next local government election is called.

However, Cytall told the Jamaica Observer that support from the party’s leadership had been inadequate.

“I never received much constituency support from the JLP hierarchy while I was councillor,” he said. “I have only received 40 care packages from the Member of Parliament (MP) Kerensia Morrison since she took office,” he said during an interview after the municipal meeting.

He also said he had been wrongfully blamed for a protest staged by residents.

“It is said that I, along with my female executive officers, organised a demonstration in the division, which was totally fictitious because I was never a part of it. We cannot stop democratic citizens from demonstrating about a problem that is affecting them,” he said.

He also expressed his disappointment in the way his removal was handled.

“I was cast aside without a proper democratic process that would involve consultation with community members; they, too, were disappointed,” he said.

Cytall said he is willing to continue to serve as a councillor on a PNP ticket if he is offered a slot on the ballot for the next local government polls.