Court intervenes in WMC deputy mayor battle

WESTERN BUREAU:

The People’s National Party’s (PNP) Danree Delancy, who was recently ousted as the deputy mayor of Savanna-la Mar and replaced by independent councillor Ian Myles, has won the first round in his court battle to be reinstated to the position he held for 12 years.

In an interview with The Gleaner on Friday, Delancy said he had managed to secure an order through the Supreme Court to put a hold on all matters relating to filling the position of deputy mayor.

“We had a hearing today (Friday) and a court order – not an injunction – was granted that nothing further be done on the matter, meaning, no acknowledging of anyone else as deputy mayor, nothing to do with the swearing [in] or anything like that cannot be done until further advice,” Delancy said.

Myles took over Delancy’s office last week after getting the majority of the votes at the last Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) meeting, where seven of the 11 councillors backed him to replace Delancy. He was of the view that he was now the legitimate deputy mayor whether officially sworn in or not.

But Delancy believes that he is still the holder of the post.

“Based on what transpired in the Supreme Court today, I believe I am still the deputy until the court makes a ruling to say otherwise,” said Delancy.

It should be noted that Myles, who is councillor for the Little London Division, Garfield James, the councillor for the Sheffield Division; and Lawton McKenzie, the councillor for the Grange Hill Division, were all a part of the PNP majority after the last local government elections. However, Myles, McKenzie and James cut ties with their former party in protest of Ian Hayles being selected as the PNP’s new standard-bearer in Westmoreland Western.

The trio sided with their Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) counterparts and tabled a no-confidence motion against Delancy, which was successful.

Myles was then elevated to the position of deputy mayor, which Delancy is challenging in the court.

Last week, Myles was poised to take on the role of acting mayor, as Moore was slated to go off on one month of vacation leave. However, withdrew his leave and remains at the helm.

“That situation has nothing to do with it,” the mayor said, however. “I am still in office; when I go on leave, you will hear.

“At this time, I have no comment, absolutely none; the thing is in court, and I will not make any comments until the court makes its decision,” he told The Gleaner on Friday.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com