Null and void - St Thomas resolution to dethrone mayor dumped at meeting

Efforts by People's National Party (PNP) councillors in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation to dethrone newly appointed Mayor of Morant Bay Michael Hue were on Tuesday thwarted after a technicality in the no-confidence resolution brought against him was outlined.

Hue, who was the deputy mayor, assumed the duties of mayor and chairman of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation following the sudden resignation of Lenworth Rawle, days before the meeting where a no-confidence motion was expected to have been moved against him and Hue.

During a special meeting called by the PNP councillors to vote on the resolution, the chairman of the municipal corporation said it was nullified when he became mayor.

"The resolution becomes null and void because you're moving against Michael Hue, deputy mayor, and Lenworth Rawle, the chairman. Circumstances have made those positions irrelevant today, therefore, there is no basis on which this resolution can go ahead," he said, adding that, if they wish, the PNP councillors could move another resolution at a later date.

Hue then immediately asked for a motion to have the meeting adjourned, which was quickly moved and seconded by two councillors of the Jamaica Labour Party, ending the meeting in under 10 minutes.

... 'It won't stop us'

People's National Party (PNP) Councillor Hubert Williams, minority leader in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, has described actions this week by newly appointed Morant Bay Mayor Michael Hue as criminal and autocratic.

Hue on Tuesday used a technicality to block a vote on a resolution to have him removed from his post.

"What really happened was the chairman tried to put a block on the democratic process. He's a very autocratic person and what he did today was nothing short of criminal. As a person who is a big believer in democracy, I am really offended by the actions of Mr Hue, but it won't stop us," Williams said.

"We will move forward with another resolution. He didn't accept this one today, nor were we allowed to read through our amendments but I'm going to meet with my legal team right away and we'll decide the next course of action," he said.

Despicable and alarming

Speaking with The Gleaner, Opposition Spokesperson for Local Government Angela Brown Burke, who was among a crowd of PNP supporters, described the proceedings of the meeting as "'a sad day".

"I find it despicable and alarming that the CEO, who is supposed to be the professional voice of the council, has joined the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) in their political manoeuvring and, for me, that is the most disappointing part of it because it almost seems as if there is no professionalism really," Brown Burke said.

"Not just on the part of the JLP councillors, but also on the part of the professionals who should be providing advice."

Said Brown Burke: "So, if you come to a council meeting and the mover of the motion says 'I have tweaked the motion and have made some simple amendments and I have it here', I think it is the duty of the CEO to take it and then to determine whether or not it has been substantially altered.'"

She added: "I don't think we got to that point because I believe the CEO came in as a JLP operative on the day to do the JLP bidding, and I believe it's a sad day."