ATMOSPHERE OF TOGETHERNESS AND NEED FOR WORK AT FIRST COUNCIL SITTING
(Unity: JLP Councillor, Mayor Michael Belnavis poses with PNP Councillor Kaydian Harty at swearing-in ceremony)
Newly elected councillors in the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC) had a chance to say how they felt making it into the Council as representatives of the people.
This section of the programme, at the first meeting of the SAMC following the February 26 Local Government elections, provided for some lights moments before newly elected Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis returned to the agenda.
The Elections saw the JLP winning 11 divisions and the PNP five, in St Ann. Here is a sampling from the brief speeches:
(Lloyd Garrick, PNP -Moneague, and Kim Brown Lawrence, JLP- Brown’s Town, pose for the cameras in the first Council meeting)
First up to introduce himself was IAN ‘TRUMPET’ BELL (PNP) who is now the Minority Leader of the Council. He takes over from Winston Brown who was defeated in the election. Bell pointed to his nearly 1,000-vote win and thanked the people of the Beecher Town Division for returning him yet again.
(Clovis Gohagen -first time Councillor)
Newcomer KAYDIAN HARTY (PNP) thanked the people of Claremont Division and played on her name “Harty” . “You deserved a hearty future and you have done that” she said. She said Claremont was the bastion of the PNP in South East St Ann.
PAUL MCFARLANE (PNP), returning Councillor for the Calderwood Division said the people had voted for him to help support and build the parish. He said the people had decided in voting for him that “one good turn deserves another.”
(Claudette Brown -first term Councillor)
Newcomer MARLINE THOMPSON KENYON (JLP) created what is considered the biggest upset of the Elections in beating Winston Brown to represent the Borobridge Division. She said she was widely known as ‘Muffet’. Referring to an earlier defeat by Brown she said, “I wanted this so many years ago…I am here to stay I am here to serve.”
KIM BROWN LAWRENCE (JLP) who is also a returning Councillor referred to her win in the Brown’s Town Division. She said Brown’s Town was a “strong PNP territory” but she was still able to win it. She thanked “JLP,PNP new comers and undecided” for their support. “Thanks to the Most High,” she said.
(Ian Isaacs — Building ‘family of supporters’)
IAN ISAACS (JLP) who recorded one of the largest margins of victory said: “Exchange is known as the bedrock of North East St Ann [for the JLP].” He said in the Division he created a family of supporters and worked for the improved lives of the people. He said he was known as the “Councillor for everybody.”
GENEVOR GORDON BAILEY (JLP) said when she won the Lime Hall Division in 2016 she was hailed as the first term “dragon slayer”. She said she was a “peopletician” and was the first person from the JLP to win back-to-back victories in Lime Hall which she would proudly serve.
(Genevor Gordon Bailey, 2nd term and Dalas Dickenson 5th term)
DALAS DICKENSON (JLP), former Deputy Mayor said it was time to build a better parish. He said he had become the longest-serving councillor for the St Ann’s Bay Division and he was the “People’s Councillor.”
