JLP councillors walk out of KSAMC meeting over deputy mayor vote

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors walked out of today’s monthly meeting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) to protest the election of People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Springfield Division, Lorraine Dobson, as Deputy Mayor of Kingston.

The walkout followed heated debate between members of the JLP and the PNP over whether the election was conducted in keeping with the KSAMC’s standing orders.

JLP councillors argued that, as a matter of principle, the post of deputy mayor should have been granted to one of their members.

JLP councillors Tosha Schwapp of the Stony Hill Division and Rohan Hall of the Red Hills Division nominated Winston Ennis, former deputy mayor and councillor for the Barbican Division, for the post.

Dobson, however, was nominated by PNP councillors Eugene Kelly of the Whitfield Town Division and Jesse James Clarke of the Trafalgar Division.

This caused tension during the meeting, prompting a five-minute recess called by the Mayor of Kingston and chairman of the corporation, Andrew Swaby.

Following the recess, Dobson was named deputy mayor, and JLP councillors walked out of the meeting in protest.

Proceedings continued with Dobson’s swearing-in.

“I, Lorraine Angella Dobson, having been duly named deputy mayor, do hereby swear that I will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of such office without fear or favour, partiality or ill-will, and to the best of my judgement and ability, so help me God,” she affirmed, as PNP councillors knocked desks and chanted in congratulations amid empty JLP seats.

“I’m feeling good to know that my colleagues have placed such confidence in me in carrying out the duties as deputy mayor. I have always had good relations, and therefore they have displayed that confidence in me today,” Dobson said in an interview with The Gleaner.

Dobson said the walkout by JLP members was expected but noted that she is willing and prepared to work with all her colleagues for the betterment of the KSAMC.

“The walkout is nothing new. You will see it on many occasions where they do things like this. So I guess that is just what they decided to do,” Dobson said.

Disquiet in the JLP camp was evident even before the meeting, with 11 councillors arriving long after the start.

John Myers, JLP councillor for the Lawrence Tavern Division, argued that Dobson’s election violated principle following a 20–20 tie, which resulted in the PNP securing control of the KSAMC through the popular vote in the recent local government elections.

“They got the mayorship by means of the popular vote, so the deputy, in principle, should have gone to the JLP side. We were operating on that principle, so we chose Winston Ennis,” Myers said, noting that the nomination was seconded but later overtaken by the PNP’s nomination of Dobson.

“It is unfair and against principle, and the mayor knows that this was done intentionally. We are upset, and we are going to meet tomorrow and discuss whatever move we can make to deal with them. It does not look good as a matter of principle,” he said.

Dobson, however, was unflinching, arguing that the JLP had set a similar precedent on at least two recent occasions in St Thomas and Clarendon.

“They did it to the PNP in St Thomas, and they did it again in Clarendon. When we had the by-election and regained one of the divisions, there was a tie similar to what exists at the KSAMC, but the mayor was already installed. When the PNP recommended its deputy, they wouldn’t have it. A similar situation unfolded in St Thomas,” she said.

“So the precedent was already set by them twice.”

- Corey Robinson

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