The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rejects the move by Mayor Andrew Swaby to appoint a so-called Advisory Committee for the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) as a clear attempt to distract from serious questions that he has not sufficiently answered related to the People’s National Party (PNP) and KSAMC Corruption Scandal.

In a recent statement quoted by the media, Swaby said the new committee is not intended to replace the Local Public Accounts Committee (LPAC) but is instead “a proactive initiative to promote accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership within the municipality”.

Jamaica Labour Party Spokesman Marlon Morgan says Swaby’s announcement of an advisory committee is a clear attempt to deceive the people of Jamaica into believing that the KSAMC under his leadership is serious about principles of transparency and accountability.

Morgan says Swaby must answer several questions, including:

• Is he aware that senior members of his administrative team have been vetting the political affiliation of residents in the corporate area before deciding whether to offer assistance from the coffers of the KSAMC?
• What effective action has he taken to address the aforementioned victimisation, which has been confirmed in conversations that have leaked on social media?
• Did PNP General Secretary Dayton Campbell speak the truth when, on December 22 last year, he told then PNP caretaker for Central Kingston, Lawrence Rowe, that the KSAMC is sending monies to PNP caretakers on a strategic basis?
• Does Swaby view the arrangement referred to by Campbell in the leaked audio as corrupt?
• What did Swaby mean when he was heard in leaked audio saying he has spent monies “far and wide” to “grill up” and “gel up di ting” to ensure the PNP wins constituencies in the corporate area?
• Can he confirm that dozens of PNP caretakers visited the premises of the KSAMC in December last year and collected money from the corporation to further their campaign activities? Was he aware of this, and what did he do about it?
• Why did his administrative staffer tell a PNP caretaker that the money collected is not for public knowledge?
• Were monies from the KSAMC used to support Labour Day 2024 activities by PNP caretakers?

“The Jamaica Labour Party renews its call for Swaby and Campbell to resign due to the PNP/KSAMC corruption scandal. Jamaicans will not be fooled by the PNP’s usual tactic of setting up committees and using buzzwords such as transparency and accountability when faced with scandals. Both Swaby and Campbell must go,” Morgan added.