Mayor status taken from Anderson

THE ST ANN police yesterday charged mayor of St Ann's Bay, Ivan Anderson with fraud.

Anderson is accused of impropriety in a multimillion-dollar real-estate transaction he undertook in his capacity as a land surveyor.

Following the laying of the fraud charges, Robert Montague, state minister in charge of local government, said he would remove the title of mayor from Anderson.

"(Anderson) made a statement last week indicating that he would be stepping aside and, under the circumstances, we have no alternative but to rescind it (his mayoral status)," Montague told The Gleaner yesterday.

Montague said the matter of rescinding the appointment of mayor "does not speak to innocence or guilt". He said it was a procedural move in order to elevate Deputy Mayor Vinnette Robb.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn last week ruled that Anderson, councillor for the Brown's Town division, be charged with fraudulent conversion.

Anderson said he was not guilty of the crime that has been alleged against him.

"I wish to affirm my total and complete innocence and my intention to vigorously challenge these charges and clear my name," he declared.