Deon Green, Gleaner Writer

LONDON, England:

Another Jamaican, the second in the past two weeks, has been appointed a mayor in the United Kingdom.

The latest appointment announced is Mayor of Merton, Jamaican-born Councillor John Dehaney.

He was officially presented at the annual council meeting last week Wednesday.

Councillor Dehaney has been the councillor for Graveney in London ward for five years. The mayor's appointed charities for his tenure are Deen City Farm, Merton Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Group.

The Kingstonian told The Gleaner that, while it was early days for him, he intended to use his charities as a means to have a direct impact on the West Indian community in the United Kingdom.

A problem

"Caribbean and West Indian people do have a problem with sickle cell; I will also be looking at how the charities can be of support in Jamaica," he said.

On May 21, another Jamaican-born councillor, Sheik G.L. Thompson, took over the mantle as Mayor of Haringey in north-east London.

Councillor Thompson, a professional jazz musician, has played with some of Britain's most famous groups and toured with his own bands all over the world.

Mr. Thompson, who represents the Tottenham Hale ward, took over the reins of office at the annual meeting of the council on May 21.