Mayor Fisher to focus on Economic Development of St. Elizabeth

Newly installed Mayor of Black River, Councillor Everton Fisher, said the economic development of St. Elizabeth will be a top priority during his tenure.

He said the objective will be achieved through partnership with the private sector and other bodies.

"We have to look beyond drain cleaning. We have to bring this parish of St. Elizabeth to greater economic stability so that our people can benefit. We have to partner with our business partners, we have to give incentives… to kick start and to encourage growth and development of this parish,” he stated.

Mayor Fisher was giving his inaugural address on March 29, at a swearing in ceremony of the new councillors elected in the March 26 Local Government polls, held in the Council Chambers.

He said the council will be working with entities such as the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on a development plan for the parish and to implement projects in tourism, noting that “tourism must be the pillow on which we have to move this parish."

Commending the outgoing administration, the new Mayor said that despite resource constraints and political differences “we have done what could be done to enhance the people and parish of St. Elizabeth. We have stood as a council, without the intervention of the Auditor General and the Contractor General, but we have to improve our customer service delivery."

The new Deputy Mayor, Mordant Mitchell, said he will be stepping up his campaign for the council to support and monitor the educational institutions in the parish.

"We want to see quality product coming from our schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor, Councillor Jeremy Palmer, congratulated the new Mayor. “I want to assure him, he has our full support, and it won’t be opposing for opposing sake,” he stated.

By Garfield L. Angus, JIS Reporter