Mayor accuses Miller of sponsoring graffiti in Waterford mural spat

Amid a row over vandalism claims and political sabotage in Waterford, Portmore Mayor Leon Thomas has declared as graffiti any unauthorised paintings on public property, even if they are for the promotion of Jamaican culture.

Fenley Douglas, councillor for the Waterford division, has also strongly denied culpability in the defacing on Saturday of an Independence-themed mural sponsored by St Catherine South East Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Miller.

Thomas, who chairs the People’s National Party majority Portmore Municipal Corporation, accused Miller of political gimmickry, disclosing that the municipality did not receive any communication from the MP about his intention to paint murals on a public bridge in Waterford.

“Let it be clear any painting of images on public walls in the municipality without the approval of the council is considered graffiti and the municipal council has the right to remove such,” Thomas said while addressing journalists at the Portmore Municipal Corporation headquarters on Monday.

He continued: “I will be reaching out to the MP once again so we can have meaningful discussions on what is best for Portmore and his constituency.”

Thomas said that all unauthorised signs and murals painted on public property would be removed after the Independence celebrations.

Several complaints have been made in recent years to Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown, ranging from squabbles over paint, signs, and political paraphernalia.

The ombudsman said that no complaint has been made to her office about the Waterford spat, but she has pledged to defuse the dispute before tensions escalate.

“The fact that the situation has a political overtone, it falls within my mandate. As such, I will be reaching out to the parties to do an assessment of the situation,” Parchment Brown told The Gleaner.

Douglas, who was also at Monday’s press briefing, urged Miller to reach out to him in a spirit of unity and not seek to engage in political point-scoring.

“I am not aware that any supporter of mine or any citizen from the Waterford community has defaced any mural, and as councillor, I personally condemn any such action,” he said.

Miller had, on Saturday, accused supporters of Douglas of defacing murals on public walls in the division.

The MP called the vandalism a national disgrace, adding that it could inflame political tensions in the division. Miller said that the matter was being investigated by the St Catherine South Police Division, a claim that has been confirmed by the police.

But in a veiled rebuke at Miller for intervening in local politics, Douglas insisted that there is a clear difference between the roles of councillor and MP.

“It is my responsibility to deal with local governance within the municipality and my division, while the member of parliament is responsible for central government matters,” he said.

Douglas said that he had written to the chairman of the municipality in April seeking permission to undertake work on Waterford Parkway to coincide with the celebration of Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence.

He admonished Miller against the duplication of efforts and the waste of public funds.

“The series of work would involve painting Waterford Parkway and the transformation of the walls of the bridges with murals,” Douglas said, pointing out that it was agreed at a meeting that local community heroes should be highlighted on murals.

“All I am asking for is the member of parliament to have dialogue, so we don’t spend public money on the same projects, just like we, as councillors, have to get permission, so does the MP.”