Belnavis looking to foster stakeholder relationships in St Ann

NEWLY INSTALLED Mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Michael Belnavis, is hoping to foster growth in St Ann by building fruitful partnerships with stakeholders in the parish.

The mayor’s declaration came after People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Beecher Town division, Ian Bell, raised questions over the absence of agencies at the St Ann Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting last Thursday.

Bell further queried whether or not it was a requirement for these agencies to attend the corporation’s scheduled meetings to report on what had happened in the parish over the last month.

He noted that their CEO, Jennifer Brown-Cunningham, had previously shared that representatives from the National Water Commission, Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force would be in attendance.

Representatives from the three agencies are invited to the municipal corporation’s infrastructure and traffic management committee meeting which meets monthly.

There were, however, no reports from any agencies during Thursday’s meeting.

“I am wondering if they are overburdened by the infrastructure and traffic management committee meetings. There’s too much on the agenda for that day to be tabled,” Bell complained.

“We have a serious water crisis. We have issues with crime and we have no update as to what is happening. We really want to know what is happening in the parish of St Ann,” the councillor added.

Also raising questions over the police’s reports was councillor for the Calderwood division, Paul McFarlane.

“As it relates to the overall police report for the parish, will they be at council meeting to give that report or will they give it at infrastructure and traffic meeting?” McFarlane asked.

In his response to the queries, Belnavis assured councillors that the agencies are expected to be present at their respective committee meetings to give updates on the parish. He also pointed out that the police will not share their report at the monthly meeting, as they are required to do so when the infrastructure and traffic management committee meets.

In the meantime, the mayor said that the St Ann Municipal Corporation is committed to ensuring that there is a high level of transparency in these meetings.

“The media will be invited to infrastructure and traffic [management committee meeting], so there is no issue there in terms of transparency in information,” said Belnavis.

“We just want to streamline the operation and have everything flowing according to where it is supposed to be. If it means that we have to sit down for an additional hour or so, then so be it. We are here to represent, so time should not be an issue,” he explained.

Speaking with The Gleaner after Thursday’s meeting, Belnavis, a second-term mayor, said the municipal corporation is working to foster relations with stakeholders and agencies across the parish.

“Sometimes we can leverage their expertise and also get some funding from them, so it is important that we work closely with these agencies. Working with these agencies will bridge the gap between the corporation and the agencies,” he said.

The mayor pointed out that building these relationships are a top priority in pushing the parish to its full potential.

“We have already started in that respect so we are now working together with the agencies. So like water commission, we have already made contact with those individuals to see how we can better the water supply in and around St Ann,” he told The Gleaner.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com