JLP and PNP supporters clash at swearing-in of KSAMC councillors

Chaos today broke out between supporters of the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) during the swearing-in of councillors of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.

The clash saw bottles and chairs being thrown.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Eucal Francis, told The Gleaner that mayhem ensued after PNP supporters tried to block the view of JLP supporters who were watching the proceedings along Church Street.

No one was injured. 

On the inside, the PNP's Andrew Swaby was sworn in as the corporation's chairman and the new Mayor of Kingston, who pledged a bipartisan approach to the operations of the local authority.

“This KSAMC administration is committed to transparency and believes in open, unbiased dialogue with all stakeholders. As a local authority, we have an obligation to the people we serve, to account to them for the way we spend their resources and to ensure it is for their benefit,” he said. 

Sawby is the councillor for the Vineyard Town division. 

The JLP's Delroy Williams, councillor for the Seivright Division and immediate past Kingston mayor, was sworn in as Deputy Mayor.

Thirty-eight other councillors from both political parties also took the oath of office, bringing an end to the contention in the KSAMC resulting from the tie in the local government elections. 

Swaby, in his address, stated that the next three months will be used to meet with various stakeholders to outline how the municipality will tackle issues of garbage collection, street lights, water woes, roads, the condition of markets, and building and planning. 

He also committed to hosting quarterly town halls and press briefings to provide updates on the work of the municipal corporation. 

- Sashana Small

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