Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE FAILURE of Local Government Minister Portia Simpson Miller to act on a report submitted by the Lloyd B. Smith Committee, which was empowered to investigate claims of abuse of power and political nepotism at the Bogue Lands, in Montego Bay, is causing consternation in the St. James Parish Council.
"We are sad and disappointed with the lack of action from Minister Simpson Miller," said Councillor Charles Sinclair, of the Flankers Division. "This matter involves the inappropriate distribution of parish council assets and it needs to be dealt with expeditiously."
According to Mr. Sinclair, the Smith Committee's report was submitted to Mrs. Simpson Miller in September and, except for an October meeting at which members of the committee were called in to discuss their recommendations with the permanent secretary and an unofficial report that the matter was to be taken to Parliament, the issue has been in limbo.
RAMPANT IRREGULARITIES UNCOVERED
Following the 2002 Local Government election, in which the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took over the St. James Parish Council, news broke that the new administration had uncovered rampant irregularities in the distribution of parish council lands at Bogue. It was reported that the lands were virtually given away to People's National Party (PNP) activists and family and friends of council officials.
As a consequence of the firestorm resulting from the allegations, Councillor Sinclair was mandated by Mayor Noel Donaldson to investigate the reports and document his findings. He subsequently produced a scathing 12-page report, in which he claimed he had found evidence of gross irregularities, including major abuse of power and one glaring case of political nepotism involving a top government official.
With Councillor Sinclair's report forming the backdrop of weekly verbal clashes between the JLP and their PNP counterparts at council meetings, Mrs. Simpson-Miller intervened in September 2004 and appointed Dennis Morrison Q.C., to head a team to investigate the findings in Councillor Sinclair's report. The team was given until early December 2004 to present its findings.
Following the release of Mr. Morrison's findings, the parish council met in caucus and made a submission to the Local Government Minister, outlining how they would like to see the matter resolved. The minister subsequently appointed a committee headed by Mr. Smith to examine the council's submission and make appropriate recommendations to bring the matter to closure.
As a result of Mrs. Simpson Miller's failure to act on the report, the no-nonsense Councillor Sinclair, who was a part of the Smith Committee, recommended that the council take the matter into its own hands and make the report public. According to him, the findings should have serious implications for those persons now occupying the Bogue Lands.
"The Lloyd B. Smith Report was made to both Minister Simpson Miller and the St. James Parish Council so since she won't act, I am suggesting that the council table and debate the report so that the public can be enlightened," said Councillor Sinclair. "I hope my colleagues will follow my recommendation."
