OCHO RIOS, St Ann — A call from Councillor Winston Brown (People’s National Party [PNP], Borrobridge Division) for mayor of St Ann’s Bay Sydney Stewart to resign by July 19 fell flat during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation.

Stewart was absent and Brown’s call was largely ignored by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-controlled local body. Deputy Mayor Dallas Dickenson (JLP, St Ann’s Division), who was sitting in for Stewart, made it clear that unfounded allegations would not be entertained, with Councillor Genevor-Gordon Bailey (JLP, Lime Hall Division) chiming in, “Hear seh can’t carry go court”.

There was support from Councillor Ian Bell (PNP, Beecher Division), who joined Brown’s call for clarity on the use of corporation funds but the other councillors who were elected on a PNP ticket remained silent.

Brown has vowed to “take further action” if the mayor does not resign, but it was unclear what those steps would be. This is the latest salvo in an unrelenting campaign, by Brown, who has repeatedly said he has lost confidence in the mayor.

Speaking from political platforms, Brown has raised concerns about street lights and the use of resources from the corporation’s Special Grant and Repair fund.

Speaking with the media after Thursday’s meeting, he repeated the allegations.

The mayor has consistently denied his claims.

— Akera Davis