People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Vineyard Town Division, Andrew Swaby, is the new mayor of Kingston.

Swaby was officially sworn in at a ceremony held today, March 12, at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) in downtown Kingston.

The former mayor, Councillor Delroy Williams of the Seivewright Gardens Division, was sworn in as the deputy mayor.

The occasion attracted a large crowd of supporters from both political major parties, who converged outside the Church Street location of the KSAMC to watch the ceremony on a large screen that was installed on the outside of the building.

This resulted in a heavy detachment of police, who were on hand to maintain order as supporters from both parties traded barbs and insults, interspersed with bouts of laughter.

Swaby was handed the mayorship due to the PNP winning the popular vote, after both parties secured wins in 20 divisions each in the local government polls on February 26.

Watch below the exchange between party supporters at the swear-in ceremony:

– Durrant Pate