OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Sydney Stewart now has the task of mending the local authority’s relationship with the police after a testy exchange between a locally elected official and a lawman over the granting of party permits.

A visibly upset Councillor Ian Bell (People’s National Party, Beecher Town Division) took issue with the police’s decision not to green light events in sections of his division on the basis that the communities were unsafe.

“The reason for refusing one of the particular events, according to the Senior Superintendent [Dwight] Powell, is that the area is notoriously known to have violence producers of which will facilitate and have facilitated gunmen going to these unauthorised events and firing indiscriminately, putting the public’s life in fear. Mr Chairman, this is a notorious lie! I have been the councillor for Parry Town for 15 years and at no time at all has any activity been shoot up by gunman,” Bell said during the last monthly meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation.

“It better him did refuse it without putting in writing his reasons, about gunman go a dance go fire. No gunman never go there go shoot up no dance!” he insisted.

In defending the community’s honour, he intimated that there was a double standard being used in assessing applications.

“Multiple events are being held in Ochi. I have a responsibility to the people that I represent and they will not be labelled in this fashion… So, I’m attacking the superintendent and his ability,” said Bell.

The councillor struggled to understand why the permits were denied after what he understood to be the police’s agreement that events could resume in his division.

“Last month during my presentation I gave commendations to SSP Powell for Parry Town as it relates to entertainment but I want to withdraw that, thanks,” said Bell.

“A meeting was called and the people of Parry Town and its environs got the assurance from the senior superintendent that activities will resume, along with dialogue with their councillor and if their councillor makes available certain locations, he will have no problem with approving events,” he added.

Bell said he approved two areas in Parry Town for events to be held, but all the applicants were denied permits two weeks after the meeting was held.

“These are people who want to conform with law and order — and all five of them were refused immediately,” Bell stated.

Deputy Senior Superintendent Linton Bailey, who was in attendance at the monthly meeting, informed Bell that the commanding officer has the final say.

“Bell, you speak for yourself not on behalf of me or the senior superintendent. The superintendent is the only person by law who is empowered to grant permission. He may have indicated to you at one time that situation was good for permissions for events, but it can be reviewed at any time, which he did,” Bailey stated.

He went on to reiterate what he had previously mentioned in his monthly police report, that plans are being made to review blacklisted communities and facilitate event permits.

Mayor Stewart promised to promptly convene a meeting with SSP Powell to have further discussions. He also advised Bell that the matter could have been handled more appropriately.