Search on for new Trelawny deputy mayor
Published:Friday | March 1, 2024 | 12:09 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
Donovan White, the deputy mayor in the last Trelawny Municipal Corporation, was unsuccessful in his bid to retain the Duncans division in the recently concluded local government elections.
This result has opened a can of worms within the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as it relates to selecting a deputy from the six successful JLP candidates.
The political hierarchy is believed to be siding with Collen Gager as mayor.
They are to decide between former mayor Johnathan Bartley, who won the Wakefield division, and Dunstan Harper, who won the Sherwood division.
“I am willing to serve in any capacity the party asks of me. [But] While the votes will be among councillors, that may be influenced by other people up the ladder,” said
Harper, bursting out in a loud guffaw.
“Maybe you don’t know, but I was hauled over the coals when it was believed that I planned to challenge Gager. I won’t say more, but that belief did not go down well within the party hierarchy. However, I will not refuse the position if my fellow colleagues decide on me,” Harper said with a broad smile.
Desmond Smith, the returned councillor for the Lorrimers division, said,”I am satisfied as a councillor.”
Added Smith: “I am not a status person. I have enough things to do and being deputy mayor is not on my radar.”
Efforts to reach Gager were unsuccessful as his telephone rang without an answer.