Clarke slammed for ‘injustice’ but accuses Phillips of grandstanding

INFRASTRUCTURE AND Physical Development Committee Chair Heroy Clarke has been accused of committing “an injustice” to the Citizens’ Rights to the City (CRC) lobby by denying it the opportunity to appear before the parliamentary group on Thursday.

Representatives of the CRC, which comprises associations and residents of 29 communities mainly in Kingston and St Andrew, were seated in the gallery of Gordon House to observe the proceedings.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the CRC had indicated that it was greatly troubled by the committee’s decision to exclude a verbal presentation by the lobby at its next meeting

“I think that your actions have been unfair to the citizens who wrote that letter and who have concerns by not giving them the opportunity to at least reappear at the committee because that first meeting was prematurely ended because we invited them alone without the agencies which they had a concern about,” committee member Mikael Phillips told Clarke.

“Whatever your intentions are or why it is you have denied them that right is unjust and unfair,” Phillips said, adding that the decision could be interpreted as an effort to stifle citizens’ voices.

Among other matters, the written submission brought to the committee’s attention the wide impacts of the 2017 Provisional Development Order for Kingston and St Andrew, in particular the policy changes relating to building height and density.

The CRC said these matters have critical implications for the quality of life.

The group had also argued that the decision ran counter to the committee’s mandate as set out in the Standing Orders of Parliament.

In response, Clarke said he asked the CRC to observe the process and would request that it make a presentation to the committee at any given time.

“At this time, we need for the technocrats and the committee to deal with the matter as best as possible, and if we are at a stalemate, then we can always call back the citizens. But what I realise from the member is that there is some amount of grandstanding that is taking place,” Clarke said.

Phillips demanded an apology from Clarke, but none was forthcoming.

Phillips exited the chamber and did not return for the remainder of the sitting.

The CRC’S submission was examined by the committee, and it was agreed that a document would be generated by the clerk of the House and submitted to the relevant agencies for their written response.