One mayor, three secretaries

Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

MAYOR OF Port Antonio Floyd Patterson was on Thursday accused of hiring three secretaries for his office and paying them with public funds.

People's National Party (PNP) councillor, Dexter Rowland, raised the issue during the sitting of the Portland Parish Council's monthly meeting.

"Each mayor is entitled to one secretary," said Rowland. "Yet still, the mayor has three. There are repeated arguments about them not having money to do road repair, provide potable water, and to do other repairs."

He added: "I believe that the three ladies are quite intelligent, and they are an asset to the parish council, nevertheless I also believe that they should be assigned to other departments where their expertise can be better utilised."

Rowland asked secretary manager Michael Morris to look into the matter. However, Morris did not respond to the request.

But Patterson responded by saying the councillor was not aware of the facts as to why three secretaries had been assigned to his office, and should, therefore, not attempt to accuse him of any wrongdoing.

" ... The secretary manager has no jurisdiction regarding my office. Furthermore, one of the ladies, who came on to fill in for my secretary as a result of her going on maternity leave, is being retained only for the Christmas period. The other person, who also came in to assist as a result of the maternity leave and the hefty workload, is being paid through my expense."

Patterson and Rowland argued for some time before order was restored. Rowland, though, insisted that the secretary manager look into the matter as the council was desperately trying to save funds.