Worker fired for refusing councillor’s sexual advances?
Allegations lead to shake-up of several committees
MAYOR OF Port Antonio Paul Thompson last Thursday announced a reshuffling of several committees at the Portland Municipal Corporation, which has been rocked by an allegation that a councillor, who was refused sexual favours, terminated the contract of a female worker.
But despite the reshuffling of persons charged with the responsibility of chairing the various committees within that municipality, the two sitting People’s National Party (PNP) councillors, Wayne McKenzie and Dexter Rowland, expressed disappointment that the councillor who is suspected to have carried out the act of victimisation was reassigned elsewhere.
‘... We were hoping that the individual who is suspected to have carried out the act of victimisation, based on the allegation, would have been relieved from sitting or chairing any committee ... . ‘
UNACCEPTABLE
“This is unacceptable,”
McKenzie said.
“While the mayor is well within his rights based on the bylaws of the council to carry out a reshuffle of any committee as he deems it fit, we were hoping that the individual who is suspected to have carried out the act of victimisation, based on the allegation, would have been relieved from sitting or chairing any committee,” McKenzie added.
According to him, the allegation, which does not relate directly to any act within the council, is one of a serious nature that cannot be overlooked. He argued that for too long, Jamaican women have been pressured to engaged in sexual acts in return for money or jobs by men who ought to know better, and in some instances, elected officials are the guilty ones.
And while McKenzie was expressing his dissatisfaction and questioning the real reason(s) for the committee reshuffle at this time, his colleague, Rowland, expressed that there was a change in the Finance Committee, where the responsibility of chairman has been shifted.
“Your Worship, I am thankful that you have yielded to our appeal for a change at the Finance Committee. There have been frequent reports about political victimisation, which has affected the morale of some staff members. I am happy that you have seen it fit to act in such a timely manner,” he added.