2 months ago
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The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, KSAMC, has refuted a damning allegation that it used public funds to shore up the election campaigns for some of its representatives, including constituency caretakers.
A Nationwide News exclusive on Thursday reported that at least two anti-corruption agencies are investigating the matter.
Mahiri Stewart has that story.
In our lead story for Nationwide at Five on Thursday, we reported that the anti-corruption probe is partially based on claims that several People’s National Party, PNP, representatives were contacted last year and told to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from the KSAMC.
They were reportedly told to use the funds however they deem fit.
Our story also referenced conversations in December last year involving ousted Central Kingston caretaker Lawrence Rowe, PNP general secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, and an employee of the KSAMC, former councillor, Audrey Smith Facey.
In one of the conversations, Rowe complained that he was only able to recommend two names to be engaged for Christmas work in downtown Kingston.
He claimed PNP caretakers in West Kingston and other areas were treated better.
Rowe said that for the Christmas, the KSAMC sent him only $300,000, while the PNP leadership in North West St. Andrew, received over $500,000.
He lamented to Dayton Campbell that a senior official at the KSAMC, who is also a prominent member of the PNP was in Central Kingston, disbursing money to some comrades without notifying him.
The PNP controls the KSAMC.
In response, Dr. Campbell told Rowe the monies were allocated strategically in light of the PNP’s preparation for two local by-elections.
But in a statement released on Friday, Mayor Swaby said municipalities do not disburse cash. He says the KSAMC did not authorise or facilitate cash disbursements to any individual.
He says, further, that if any such transaction took place, it was not sanctioned by the corporation and did not involve public funds.
Swaby, who is also chairman of the KSAMC, says if an anti-corruption probe is underway, his administration stands ready to cooperate fully.
In explaining how resources are allocated in the absence of an elected councillor, Swaby says when there is a vacancy in a municipal division, the job of allocation falls to the mayor.
He says, in line with that, his office contacted the Jamaica Labour Party members of parliament, MPs, representing Denham Town in West Kingston, Olympic Gardens in West Central St. Andrew, and Chancery Hall in North West St. Andrew to facilitate the distribution of funds.
This was leading up to the Christmas period.
Swaby asserts that had his approach been driven by partisanship, he would not have engaged the MPs.
He maintains that he deliberately engaged them to ensure transparency and that resources reach communities through their elected representatives.
Mayor Swaby says under his leadership, the KSAMC remains committed to integrity, responsible governance, and the proper management of public resources.
English (US) ·