OUSTER HICCUP

WESTERN BUREAU:

Tension erupted inside the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) yesterday as Councillor Lidden Lewis launched a dramatic but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to oust his People’s National Party colleague, Councillor Devon ‘Don Don’ Thomas, from his post as deputy mayor.

The usually routine monthly meeting quickly spiralled into contention after Lewis, who represents the Frome division, rose to his feet and declared that he was serving formal notice of a motion to remove Thomas, the Savanna-la-Mar North councillor, arguing that the deputy mayor had lost the confidence of his colleagues and failed to provide effective leadership.

“There is no confidence in his ability to continue in the role. He lacks the necessary skill set to foster growth and change. There is a lack of transparency and accountability … and the deputy mayor has failed in his role to encourage change, neglecting his duties to properly support the operations of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation,” said Lewis, whose motion was seconded by Councillor Julian Chang of Savanna-la-Mar South.

Lewis further proposed that the vote on Thomas’ removal be held by secret ballot during the January general council meeting.

But Mayor Danree Delancy swiftly shut down the motion, ruling that it was procedurally invalid. He argued that the notice breached the council’s by-laws, which require all documents for consideration to be submitted to the clerk at least eight clear days before a meeting.

“This is just coming to my attention. I have not had time to peruse it. Therefore, I cannot accept it,” the mayor said. “I am going with what the by-laws are saying.”

Quoting the relevant clause, the mayor stressed that only items submitted in accordance with the rule – or those granted special permission – could be accepted. He then rejected Lewis’ request for a secret ballot, insisting that any vote taken must be by show of hands.

“If we do have a vote, it will be by show of hands. [We] won’t be going the route of secret ballot,” said Delancy.

Lewis, however, pushed back forcefully. He maintained that the notice had been properly filed as a document – not a motion for debate – when it was delivered to chief executive officer and clerk Andre Griffiths on December 5.

“The document was brought to the CEO’s office on the 5th … . The vote is in January, so you have one month and more than eight days,” Lewis insisted.

He then challenged Griffiths to explain why the notice was placed on the December agenda if the mayor believed it was improperly timed.

“If the CEO knew it should not have been at this meeting, then he should’ve brought it to the January meeting,” Lewis argued, noting that nothing prevented a councillor from giving notice in December for a motion to be taken up in the new year.

“Nothing in this notice says it has to be taken here … . This is a notice to you,” he told the mayor.

Despite his protests, Delancy refused to budge, ruling that the document could not be accepted in its current form. After an extended and heated exchange between the two, Lewis finally withdrew the motion for the day – but made it clear the matter would return.

“I do ask that come January, this motion is still presented,” he vowed, promising to resubmit it within the required timeframe.

Delancy himself was ousted as deputy mayor of Savanna-la-Mar following a vote of no-confidence in July 2023, but he was subsequently installed as mayor in March 2024.

mickalia.kington@gleanerjm.com