PNP Executive Council to decide on disciplinary action against councillor Haughton

The People’s National Party (PNP) says the disciplinary action to be taken against its councillor Shernette Haughton who is accused of  nepotism, will go before the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) for ratification.

The Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has accused Haughton of nepotism in a public office and breaching government guidelines.

PNP general secretary Paul Burke, says the party’s executive committee took a position last night which will be put before Sunday’s meeting of the NEC, the highest decision making body outside of the annual conference.

The NEC is scheduled to meet at the Dinthill technical High School in Linstead, St Catherine.

The party has said possible disciplinary actions could involve Haughton, who is councillor for the Green Island Division, being deemed ineligible to contest any elections for the PNP.

Burke has declined to confirm reports that Haughton failed to attend a meeting of the party's integrity committee last week.

That committee’s report was used to consider the disciplinary action to be taken.

The OCG says during her 2012-2014 tenure as mayor and chairman, 22 contracts worth more than $3.7 million, were awarded to relatives and persons affiliated with Haughton.

Haughton’s lawyer, Delford Morgan, has rejected claims in the OCG's report while the Opposition has called for her to resign.