In his charge to the three newly elected councillors in the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Andrew Swaby, Mayor of Kingston, outlined that “the honeymoon is over” following their victory and noted that the time has come for them to continue the work of their predecessors.

The newly installed councillors are Dellon Gayle for the Denham Town Division, Kelvin Hall for the Olympic Gardens Division and Phylicia Henry-Golding for the Chancery Hall Division.

Departing office on September 9 to make room for new KSAMC councillors were Dennis Gordon and Delroy Williams. Both were successful in the September 3 General Election. Duane Smith, another councillor, demitted office as well.

On the other hand, Gayle replaces the late Jermaine Hyatt, who died in November 2024, nine months after the last Local Government Election, while Hall replaces Christopher Townsend, who died in November 2024. Henry-Golding replaces Smith.

All three new councillors were sworn in during a special sitting of KSAMC on Monday, September 22, at the Corporation’s offices in downtown Kingston, after they successfully contested by-elections on Wednesday, September 3 on Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) tickets.

They each pledged to continue on the work already started in their divisions, while bringing their own priorities to the table.

Gayle described the installation moment as “a step up” rather than a beginning. “I’m feeling elated, but I was always there doing the work, so it’s just like a step up,” Gayle said.

He said his main focus will be working with the National Water Commission to restore consistent piped water to the pleading households in his Division, while monitoring ongoing sewerage works.

“The main challenge we have right now is, like, some sewer issue and some water issue. So, from time to time, the Member of Parliament (MP) [Desmond McKenzie] has to be trucking in water. So we’ll be going in a series of discussions, dialogue with the water commission to see how best we can get water back in the pipes. The sewer issue is an issue that is being dealt with now by the water commission, a contract is now underway, and it’s being done right now,” Gayle said.

He also emphasised that his priority is to move past the elections, hit the ground running, and maintain safety and peace in the division.

“I must say we are at the right place right now in terms of the crime and violence because we have no shooting or murder since the start of the year. So we are on the right path and I know that with the different social programmes that we’re putting in place, it will help the guys, the young men, the crime producers to keep in line and to keep the peace,” he said.

For his part, Hall was excited about his new role, saying he felt “very much welcomed” and eager to get to work.

He said one of his main goals is to ensure residents feel included in the decision-making process and said that such involvement is key to building trust between communities and local government.

Hall outlined several infrastructure concerns in Olympic Gardens, which residents raised with him during his campaign walks.

“Well, for my division, one of the main plans is to let people feel included. That is definitely a big deal for them to feel and be a part of the thing. Apart from that, the other issues, such as the zinc fence removal and street lighting, because during my campaign, while I was walking, I realised that there were some street light issues. I have already initiated dialogue with JPS (Jamaica Public Service Company) to get that sorted out, and of course, dealing with sewage, drainage cleaning, etc…, given that we are now in a very rainy season… so, there are definitely some plans,” Hall said.

“Apart from that, sports is definitely a big factor because I believe that when you get a person socially involved and active, especially the youth, then that can definitely be a significant contribution to something positive as it relates to the country, not just the division but the broader country as a whole,” he said.

Henry-Golding said she has “big shoes to fill” as she replaces former Councillor Duane Smith, who is now the Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western.

She described the moment as an honour and a responsibility to continue Smith’s work in the Division while pushing her priorities, which include youth development, with a strong emphasis on education and mentorship.

“I want to provide more mentorship for the kids because I know the kids are the future… I’ve seen in my division how some of the community centres are not being put to use and I think there are teachers there as well and persons who would give back. Maybe not having a teaching degree, but they will help kids and students with the PEP (Primary Exit Profile) or anything of the sort. So that’s one of my main focus for my division because education is the key. It helps with growth, it helps with development, it’s just a stepping stone to build the future and to continue the further development of Jamaica,” Henry-Golding said.