New Mayor of Kingston Takes Office

Government Senator, Councillor Delroy Williams, is the new Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew.

He was installed during a ceremony at the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation on Church Street in downtown Kingston, on December 15.

The function was presided over by Principal Returning Officer of the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), Albert Johnson.

Senator Williams, who is the Councillor for the Seivright Gardens division in West Central St. Andrew, will also serve as the Corporation’s Chairman.

He succeeds Senator, Councillor Dr. Angela Brown Burke, who held the position from 2012 to 2016, and who performed the symbolic “robing” of the new Mayor, which marks the transition of leadership.

His Deputy will be Councillor for the Waterloo division in North East St. Andrew, Winston Ennis, who succeeds Councillor Andrew Swaby of the Vineyard Town division in South East St. Andrew.

All 40 Councillors also took the Oath of Affirmation during the ceremony, which was attended by several officials.

They were headed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, who represented Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; wife of the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness; Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; and Opposition Spokesman on Science, Energy and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, who represented Opposition Leader, the Most Hon Portia Simpson Miller.

Also in attendance were Custos Rotulorum for Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller; and Senate President, Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson.

In his address, Dr. Chang, in congratulating the Mayor, his deputy and the councillors, underscored that local government represented the first point of contact for citizens in Jamaica’s governance structure.

“You will be the (person) in the community who people will look to for leadership, for guidance and for first contact with the authorities and Government. It is an enormous responsibility, and I ask that you carry out your representation with dignity, with care and concern for those you represent,” he urged.

In his remarks, Mr. McKenzie, who also commended the councillors, urged them to use the Corporation as a vehicle of transformation and change that will advance the work of local government across Kingston and St. Andrew.

He challenged the new Mayor to “forge a partnership that will be beneficial to the city… that will cross the political boundaries.”

For his part, Senator Williams expressed gratitude for the support of Prime Minister Holness, in whose constituency his division is located.

He also thanked members of his family and residents who facilitated his re-election, while encouraging councillors on both sides of the aisle to collaborate in ensuring that they administer the business of the Corporation in the best interest of the citizens.

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) regained control of the Corporation after winning 21 of the 40 divisions in the country’s strongest municipal corporation, during the recent Local Government Elections.

The remaining 19 divisions were won by the People’s National Party (PNP).