AN August 17 date has been set for the Supreme Court to hear arguments from attorneys challenging the legality of a vote that ousted Danree Delancy from the position of deputy mayor of Savanna-la-Mar.

The application is also seeking to bar the council from installing Ian Myles as deputy mayor. The matter will be heard at 10:00 am.

The date was set on Friday, following the filing of an emergency application on July 27. At issue is a disagreement over whether the actions taken on July 13 comply with the laws that govern local authorities.

“It is our position that there is a savings clause in the Local Government Act by which the by-laws and all regulations concerning the Westmoreland Council has been preserved, notwithstanding that the Parish Council’s Act has been repealed. It is our instruction that the council will be seeking to administer the oath of office to Ian Myles today. In light of the foregoing we ask that you stay your hand pending the determination of this issue by the court,” the attorneys told the council in a July 27 letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Jamaica Observer.

According to Delancy’s lawyers, “the council ought to have sought legal advice before proceeding with the unlawful motion”.

This has all stemmed from infighting within the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) that spilled over into a power struggle for control of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation.

Myles, who represents the Little London Division, was elected on a PNP ticket but is one of three councillors who resigned from the party to register their objection to Ian Hayles representing the PNP in Westmoreland Western during the next general election. The others are Garfield James (Sheffield Division) and Lawton McKenzie (Grange Hill Division). With the resignations the PNP now has five seats in the municipal corporation, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has four, and three councillors are independent.