OCHO RIOS, St Ann:
The Parish Councils Services Commission has announced changes to the leadership in the Roads and Works Department at the St Ann Parish Council.
In a letter to the council, which was read at Thursday's monthly meeting, the Parish Council Services Commission (PCSC) directed that Superintendent Kenneth Mullings be transferred from St Ann to the St Elizabeth Parish Council.
Superintendent Tubal Brown of the St James Parish Council will be transferred to St Ann to replace Mullings. Deputy superintendent for St Ann, Alexander Mann, has also been reassigned to Portland to act as superintendent for that parish.
Mann will replace Bradley Barnett, who is expected to go on pre-retirement leave soon.
The PCSC has given no reason for the transfers, but said they would take effect on May 1.
In the meantime, the St Ann Parish Council is requesting that the transfer of the deputy superintendent be delayed for two months.
- Devon Evans
Councillors against transfer orders
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:
Councillors of the St Elizabeth Parish Council joined forces against a move by the Parish Council Services Commission (PCSC) to transfer the agency's superintendent of roads and works, Kenroy Stewart, to the St James Parish Council effective May 1.
The objection to the superintendent's transfer came at the monthly general meeting of the council at its meeting room in Black River last Thursday.
Just before the beginning of the meeting, councillors agreed to suspend the Standing Orders so as to speak to the issue. secretary/manager Gerald Lee read a letter from the PCSC explaining Stewart's pending removal.
According to the council, transferring Stewart at such short notice would be a blow to the organisation because of his seniority.
As a way of further protesting against the PCSC's letter of transfer, the councillors voted in favour of adjourning the meeting prematurely after the debate on Stewart's transfer letter.
During the discussion, a resolution was drafted and presented to the council, calling on the PCSC to withdraw the letter of transfer to Stewart. The resolution, which was passed by the council, is to be sent to the Department of Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, as well as the remaining parish councils for their support.
- Rayon Dyer
Run-down park in need of facelift
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
Former Mayor of Port Antonio, Rupert Kelly, has expressed concern about the shoddy state of the Neville Antonio Park, which forms a part of the town's entertainment and cultural background for tourists and other visitors.
According to Kelly, the condition of the park was painful to see. He argued that the powers that be needed to restore the pride and image of the park to previous years.
Secretary/manager of the council, Fay Neufville, explained that in the past, the council spent more than $100,000 to upkeep the image of the park, which was used by craft vendors and other tourism interests without earning any money for it.
"As a consequence, the park is now up for rental to any, who desires its use," said Neufville.
- Gareth Davis Sr
School for the deaf in need
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
Richard Azan, councillor for the Spaldings division of the Clarendon Parish Council, in its usual monthly meeting highlighted the plight of the school for the deaf at Woodside district just outside of May Pen.
The school has been burglarised a number of times, the last incident occurring a few days ago when thieves removed electrical wiring, among other things.
Although the school was outside of his division, Azan said the cruelty of people to the physically challenged upset him. Azan also said the school was forced to close because of the robberies and that councillors needed to do something to assist.
Winsome Rhoden, the school's principal, in an interview with The Gleaner some time ago, said she has had to keep appliances donated to the school at her home for fear that the school would be vandalised again and the appliances stolen. She has been trying unsuccessfully to relocate the school. Azan agreed with the need for the removal of the school.
Milton Brown, May Pen's mayor, said he would ask the superintendent of roads and works to lead a team to the school by next weekend to see what assistance could be offered by the council and he proposed that the councillors could adopt the school as a Labour Day project.
- Angella Chin
Municipal police sworn in
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
Deputy superintendent of police in charge of operations in Clarendon, Patrick Murdock, swore in eight members of the newly installed municipal police last Thursday.
The district constables' functions include enforcing law and order and compliance in the parish's townships.
During the parish council meeting where the instalments took place, councillors congratulated Prime Minister Bruce Golding for abolishing medical user fees in the public sector.
In the meantime, secretary/ manager Adassa Morgan brought before the council the appointment and promotion of deputy superintendent of roads and works, Alston Esmie to the position of superintendent. In the same breath, Morgan announced the proposed transfer of Esmie to the Westmoreland Parish Council, which did not sit well with some of the councillors.
