By Janet Silvera, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
UP TO late Friday afternoon, Christopher Powell, secretary/manager of the St. James Parish Council, was still awaiting the decision of the Public Service Commission regarding his request for a transfer.
"I am not resigning from my job," he told The Gleaner. "But in light of what has happened in the past nine months, I am sure the Services Commission would consider offering me a transfer."
According to him, he has received four job offers since gunmen shot up his house in the upscale Leaders Avenue neighbourhood in Montego Bay last week. No one was hurt but Mr. Powell said that he had received enough death threats in the last six months to make him take heed.
Before the Local Government elections of 2003, Mr. Powell's days in the St. James Parish Council were filled mostly with optimism.
"Staff morale was very high then, and positive changes were made," he told The Gleaner.
DEMANDING HIS RESIGNATION
The administrator, who holds a Master's degree in Finance and International Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in management, got his first taste of the imminent turbulent road ahead, after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had whipped the People's National Party (PNP) in St. James in the Local Government elections. Demonstrators blocked the entrance to the council building the morning after the elections, calling for his immediate resignation, while declaring their claim to the Government-owned building.
There was no evidence then and there is still no evidence that the former army officer, who served as director of finance at the Clarendon Parish Council before taking up the post in Montego Bay, is affiliated to any political party. Up to nine months ago he was not a favourite of either the PNP or the JLP.
"I can't be pushed around, I am not a yes-man," he said. "I carry out my job in a professional manner, because no one should be able to accuse me of taking decisions that can be deemed as political."
OUT OF FAVOUR
In May last year, he lost favour with some PNP affiliates just before the Local Government Elec-tions, because he threw some PNP candidates, including the Deputy Mayor then, Gerard Mit-chell, out of the Montego Bay Civic Centre.
Mr. Powell declared adamantly at the time, "I don't care what party you are from, neither the PNP nor the JLP will film any advert that has to do with politics in the Civic Centre."'
His stance drew the wrath of many, but Mr. Powell said, "We had our differences (PNP councillors), but we would go behind closed doors and discuss them and move on."
He said this time around he is dealing with a different kettle of fish. "They (the JLP) won but are not in charge." He said Montego Bay's Mayor, Noel Donaldson, has no power without the secretary/manager.
As secretary/manager he spends all the funds and approves all expenditures. As chief accountable officer of the Council he ensures that each expenditure is in keeping with financial regulations.
