Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
A beaming Dr. Andrew Wheatley (left), new Mayor of Spanish Town and councillor for the Naggo Head division in Portmore, greets his deputy Owen Palmer (right), councillor of the Homestead division, following their selection last night at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) headquarters in St. Andrew. Looking on is outgoing Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Raymoth Notice (second right), councillor of the Bog Walk division. - PHOTO BY OMAR ANDERSON
DR. ANDREW Wheatley, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Naggo Head division in Portmore, was last night elected the new Mayor of Spanish Town.
He replaces Dr. Raymoth Notice who, according to JLP information spokesman Senator Dwight Nelson, is expected to tender his resignation as mayor today to the secretary/manager of the St. Catherine Parish Council. Dr. Notice announced last week that he would step down, following revelations in court that he had physically abused his wife.
"I am overwhelmed by the mandate that has been given to me by my fellow councillors," Dr. Wheatley, 32, told reporters last night, following a three-hour meeting to elect him at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters in St. Andrew.
"I know that as a team we will be able to develop programmes which will contribute to the further development of the parish," he added.
Councillor Owen Palmer of the Homestead division was elected his deputy.
But Dr. Wheatley's appointment does not sit well with Portmore Mayor George Lee, who says while there is no law prohibiting a councillor in the municipality to become the Mayor of Spanish Town, he thinks such a move is undesirable.
MANDATE
Speaking to The Gleaner earlier yesterday, Mayor Lee argued that should Dr. Wheatley be given the mandate of Mayor of Spanish Town, there would, in effect, be two mayors in the Portmore Municipality, which would be very awkward.
Last night Senator Nelson noted that Dr. Wheatley was elected despite a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Portmore Municipality and St. Catherine Parish Council in 2003.
The MoU set out 'boundaries and jurisdictions' prohibiting councillors from either municipality seeking important offices in the opposite council. But Nelson argued that the MoU had to be subjected to the relevant law.
"You can't make an agreement that seeks to provide for situations outside of that prescribed by the law. That would become ultra vires."
Meantime yesterday, several placard-bearing women vented their disapproval of Dr. Notice remaining councillor for the Bog Walk division of the St. Catherine Parish Council.
The women charged that Dr. Notice was not morally competent to lead them in the St. Catherine Parish Council.
"We need Mr. Notice to go now, him do too many things that is against the law of the land," remarked Carlene Brown.
"Yes, man, wi want him fi step down because he is a woman beater; him fi go," remarked Sharon O'Meally.
