The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party says it wants the Senate to reject a Bill amending the Municipalities Act, which will allows the government to NOT have a by-election for Mayor of Portmore.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the Bill to validate the actions of Acting Mayor, Leon Thomas.
Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott, piloted the Bill.
JLP Chairman, Robert Montaque, is accusing the government of trampling on the democratic rights of the people of Portmore.
Mr. Montague says the government’s decision to not have a mayoral by-election for Portmore smacks of arrogance.
The JLP Chairman says to allow Councillor Leon Thomas to act as Mayor until Local Government Elections next year, is essentially imposing a Mayor on the residents of Portmore.
The Bill passed in the House this week is to be debated in the Senate. And Senator Montaque says he wants the Upper House to reject it.
Thomas – who’s the Councillor for the Hellshire Division – has been acting as Mayor of Portmore since the death of former Mayor, George Lee, in September last year.
The current Municipalities Act does not allow him to act in the post for more than six months.
So the government is rushing to amend the Act to legitimize his actions.
The proposed changes remove the need for a by-election until Local Government Elections next year.
The JLP has selected a pastor – Reverend Welton Shettlewood – as its candidate for Mayor.
