Mayor Michael Belnavis Forced To Resign

Following a meeting of the JLP members of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation today, a recommendation has been made that the Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay and Chairman of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation Michael Belnavis should resign his post.

This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, and Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

“The JLP Councillors requested a meeting with me, and the recent controversies surrounding the St. Ann Municipal Corporation, and specifically the issues involving the Chairman were fully discussed at length. This meeting was attended by all 11 JLP Councillors including the Mayor, and the unanimous conclusion was that it was in the best interest of the Municipal Corporation, to have the Mayor step aside while the matters ventilated in the public domain are investigated.

“The Councillors also strongly expressed the importance of ensuring that the Municipal Corporation adheres to modern principles and standards of good governance, that are foundation stones of the Local Governance Act.

“It is important to note that the Councillors did not in any way accuse the Mayor of impropriety, but strongly felt that the present atmosphere took attention away from the regulatory and development agenda that the Municipal Corporation should be focused on.

“The Councillors are committed to accountability and transparency as best practices of Local Government.”