Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie (left), and leader of the minority councillors in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), People's National Party Councillor for the Norman Gardens Division Angela Brown-Burke share a light moment during the swearing-in ceremony for the KSAC councillors on Tuesday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

THE long-awaited Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) website could become a reality by the end of February, Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie announced Tuesday.

His announcement came minutes after renewed calls from People's National Party (PNP) councillor Angela Brown-Burke, that all KSAC transactions be posted on a website during the swearing-in of the new KSAC council at the KSAC office in Kingston.

"I have been having ongoing discussions with the town clerk as it relates to the establishment of a website and I am saying it publicly today, the town clerk has been given until the end of February to ensure that a website is established for the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation," McKenzie said.

But Mayor McKenzie was not prepared to give any additional details about the website, only pointing out that the KSAC was not "responding to pressure", but was being proactive.
"We are not using any excuse as to why it is a challenge in establishing the website," he said. "We have embarked upon a programme of allowing the public to know what we are doing. There is no doubt that this has been the most open and transparent administration the KSAC has seen."
In reiterating her call for the website, Brown-Burke pointed out that the PNP councillors were prepared to establish a website if there was any resistance by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors which form the majority in the KSAC.

"I would like to use this opportunity to repeat a call made from two years ago for all KSAC transactions, both centrally and within the municipal division, to be posted on a KSAC website so that any member of the public would be able to see every expenditure by our company," she said. "After all we have nothing to hide. if the leadership of the KSAC will not establish such a website, the PNP councillors are prepared to establish the website on their own, and will secure as much information as we can and post such information."

Brown-Burke, who was reinstated as leader of the minority, added: "There is a sacred right for taxpayers to know the facts on expenditures, accountability and transparency."

Her call comes a little over two years after JLP councillors rejected a resolution that the city's local government post the details of all contracts above $120,000 on its website. At the time, the councillors argued that the motion was narrow and that central government ministries should be asked to do the same.

At Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony, 40 councillors took an oath to "duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of such office without fear or favour, partiality or ill will to the best of [their] judgement and ability".

Twenty-three JLP councillors, including Mayor McKenzie, were sworn in and 17 for the PNP, which included Brown-Burke. There were three new councillors for the JLP and five within the PNP.

Chairpersons and members of the various committees were named, and Mayor McKenzie also announced the establishment of the properties and investment committee and the bipartisan committee, which will oversee the assets of the KSAC and deal with concerns from councillors respectively.

At the same time, Mayor McKenzie warned the councillors that the work ahead was "not a bed of roses".

"Some of you may think that your job ended when you were elected on December 5. Well, you have another guess coming," he said. "You have been given an opportunity by the people to show what you can do for them. I am urging you today to do everything you can to fulfil that mandate and validate their trust in you."

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