Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
( left - right ) MCKENZIE and LEE
SPANISH TOWN:
THE PORTMORE Municipal Council (PMC) expressed shock and disgust at a comment made by Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, at his press conference earlier last week in Kingston, inferring that the PMC got preferential treatment by the central government because of its political affiliation.
According to Mayor George Lee, the Kingston Mayor had suggested that the Portmore Municipal Council had received "political preference" and that was the reason they have got $4 million from the SESP Fund while Kingston has received only $3 million.
Mayor Lee told the monthly general meeting that Mayor McKenzie's comments were regrettable as he thought highly of him. "I have discussed with Mayor McKenzie the need for more money for local government and I thought we had an understanding, so I find it rather strange to hear the mayor make these comments," Mr. Lee said.
DROP IN THE BUCKET
The Portmore Mayor added that the PMC had applied for $16 million to do drain-cleaning and other emergency work in the municipality but had received "only $4 million, a drop in the bucket". He said that as "a young council someone in the ministry might have seen it fit to give them $1 million more than it gave other councils in some cases." He added that "instead of playing a blame game, all parish councils need to work together for the betterment of local government reform."
Several councillors also reacted with disgust to Mayor McKenzie's statements. Deputy Mayor of Portmore, Colin Fagan, endorsed the Mr. Lee's view and added that when the Portmore Municipal Council came into being, the Government had promised to nurture it for the first three years. A plan that they have yet to fulfil, Councillor Fagan said.
