Falmouth Gets New Mayor

The town of Falmouth, in Trelawny, has a new Mayor. He is Councillor Garth Wilkinson, of the Falmouth division in the parish.

Councillor Wilkinson, who is also Chairman of the Trelawny Parish Council,  is one of nine persons who were victorious in the recent Local Government elections, held on Monday March 26.  He won the seat in the division as a People’s National Party (PNP) candidate.

Of the nine elected Councillors in that Parish Council, four  are PNP candidates, four are Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidates and one is an Independent.

At the swearing-in ceremony held in Water Square, Falmouth, on March 29, both Councillor Wilkinson and Councillor Lloyd Gillings of the JLP were duly nominated for the chairmanship of the council and the post of Mayor. Councillor Wilkinson  received five votes while Councillor Gillings got three votes. One ballot was not marked.

Meanwhile, JLP Councillor,  Collin Junior Gager, outgoing Chairman and former Mayor, was the sole candidate nominated for the post of Vice Chairman of the Council and Deputy Mayor of Falmouth.

In his acceptance speech, the new Mayor  said he has a vision and an ambitious plan for the parish of Trelawny, one which would be  pursued in a non-political way. “I will challenge my Councillors at all times to leave their egos at the door,” he said.

“I intend to work the plan, bearing in mind that this plan cannot be accomplished alone. We must use every resources possible,” he emphasised.

Custos of Trelawny, Hon. Paul Muschett, in bringing greetings at the ceremony, encouraged the Councillors to always work together in the interest of the parish, noting that the parish of Trelawny is on the cusp of a new dawn.

The Custos pledged his continued full support to the Parish Council.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter