Mayor Swaby Rejects ‘Thinly Veiled Political Mischief’ by Fitz-Henley

Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby is rejecting recent statements by Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley about the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, KSAMC’s, move to demand payment for outstanding advertising fees from media houses.

On Thursday, Senator Fitz-Henley cautioned Mayor Swaby against attempts to strong-arm the media and unduly influence its reporting of what the JLP dubs the scandal at the PNP-controlled KSAMC.

But in a release Friday morning, Mayor Swaby clapped back.

Mahiri Stewart reports.

Mayor Swaby has described Senator Fitz-Henley’s statement on Thursday as thinly veiled political mischief and a desperate search for relevance.

According to the Kingston mayor, the comments appear to be a deliberate distortion of the facts and an irresponsible attempt to impute political motive where none exists.

He says the KSAMC’s revenue enhancement drive did not begin with media houses, nor did it begin in June. Mayor Swaby says it began several months ago with financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, and credit unions—all of which were invoiced for outstanding sums due to the corporation.

He says it’s only now that the corporation’s attention has turned to media houses, of which nine have been formally contacted. To date, two have made payments, and one has responded seeking additional information. The others have not acknowledged receipt of the letters sent.

According to Mayor Swaby, the KSAMC’s records show that media entities have outstanding obligations to the corporation dating as far back as seven years ago.

At last Tuesday’s Council meeting, Mayor Swaby reminded the public that under Regulation 3(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations, 1978, no person or company may legally display an advertisement in, on, or over any land or building without prior approval and payment of the prescribed fee to the Local Planning Authority.

Meanwhile, the mayor says his administration is doing what others should have done years ago. This, he says, is to ensure compliance and collect revenues lawfully owed to the KSAMC.

According to the mayor, he inherited millions of dollars in debt from the previous KSAMC administration. He says this has left the corporation struggling to meet its obligations, with some entities unwilling to do business with the KSAMC due to unpaid balances from years prior.

The mayor stated that his administration has been forced to clear outstanding arrears stretching back to 2021. According to the mayor, the debt includes unpaid statutory deductions for staff, as well as contract retention payments.

He says this is precisely why the corporation is on a revenue enhancement drive, as it moves to strengthen its financial capacity to provide basic services.

Meanwhile, Mayor Swaby says the enforcement drive by the KSAMC should not be seen as political targeting of the media.

Andrew Swaby, mayor of Kingston.