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Gordon-Webley shows proof of resignation as JLP caretaker
KIMONE THOMPSON, Observer staff reporter thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, January 04, 2008
EXECUTIVE director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Joan Gordon-Webley, yesterday provided proof that she has resigned as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for South East St Andrew, a move which she hoped would put an end to queries from the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) about her motive for distributing Christmas gifts in the constituency.
In a letter dated November 4, 2007 - a day before she took the top job at the waste management company - Gordon-Webley expressed regret at walking away from the constituency but said it was necessary in order to "eliminate the appearance of conflict of interest".
Gordon-Webley sent a copy of the letter, addressed to JLP general secretary Karl Samuda, to the Observer.
Gordon-Webley's role in the constituency, which she lost to the PNP's Maxine Henry-Wilson in the September 3 polls, has been called into question since she became head of the NSWMA late last year.
However, up until yesterday, there was no evidence that she had in fact stepped away from representational politics.
In the run-up to the national polls, she told constituents that she would remain with them whether she won or not.
"Win, lose or draw, South East St Andrew will be my home," she repeated at a JLP Area Council One meeting before local government elections last month. And to date, four months after the elections, a billboard reminding the residents of the Mountain View area that "...my first responsibility is to you" remains in place.
On Wednesday, Henry-Wilson wrote to Prime Minister Bruce Golding asking him to clarify Gordon-Webley's role in the constituency. She also accused the NSWMA head of using company resources for personal reasons and supported her claims with photographs of Gordon-Webley issuing gifts from a NSWMA minivan in the constituency.
In her own defence, Gordon-Webley maintained that she was well within her rights when she used a marked company vehicle to distribute the gifts.
"I am designated as the executive director of the NSWMA to use any vehicle within the premises for my personal use," she said. "It's part of my package. The last manager was given the last vehicle which was a Prado and I understand it is to be sold to him, so I didn't get any such vehicle. I am [therefore] authorised to use any vehicle within the NSWMA."
The gifts, she said, were procured with private funds through a welfare programme she started and maintained that it was not the first such treat.
"We had one in Riverton City the Thursday before Christmas and we used the same vehicle and no noise was made about it... and next week we'll be in Retirement in Montego Bay to hand out back-to-school gifts," she said.
Yesterday, Samuda stood up for the waste disposal boss.
"It is the knowledge of the party that Mrs Joan Gordon-Webley has neither violated a moral code nor any legal code in respect to South East St Andrew and that she is not the caretaker, having resigned to take up the post at the NSWMA," he told the Observer.
KIMONE THOMPSON, Observer staff reporter thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, January 04, 2008
EXECUTIVE director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Joan Gordon-Webley, yesterday provided proof that she has resigned as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for South East St Andrew, a move which she hoped would put an end to queries from the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) about her motive for distributing Christmas gifts in the constituency.
In a letter dated November 4, 2007 - a day before she took the top job at the waste management company - Gordon-Webley expressed regret at walking away from the constituency but said it was necessary in order to "eliminate the appearance of conflict of interest".
Gordon-Webley sent a copy of the letter, addressed to JLP general secretary Karl Samuda, to the Observer.
Gordon-Webley's role in the constituency, which she lost to the PNP's Maxine Henry-Wilson in the September 3 polls, has been called into question since she became head of the NSWMA late last year.
However, up until yesterday, there was no evidence that she had in fact stepped away from representational politics.
In the run-up to the national polls, she told constituents that she would remain with them whether she won or not.
"Win, lose or draw, South East St Andrew will be my home," she repeated at a JLP Area Council One meeting before local government elections last month. And to date, four months after the elections, a billboard reminding the residents of the Mountain View area that "...my first responsibility is to you" remains in place.
On Wednesday, Henry-Wilson wrote to Prime Minister Bruce Golding asking him to clarify Gordon-Webley's role in the constituency. She also accused the NSWMA head of using company resources for personal reasons and supported her claims with photographs of Gordon-Webley issuing gifts from a NSWMA minivan in the constituency.
In her own defence, Gordon-Webley maintained that she was well within her rights when she used a marked company vehicle to distribute the gifts.
"I am designated as the executive director of the NSWMA to use any vehicle within the premises for my personal use," she said. "It's part of my package. The last manager was given the last vehicle which was a Prado and I understand it is to be sold to him, so I didn't get any such vehicle. I am [therefore] authorised to use any vehicle within the NSWMA."
The gifts, she said, were procured with private funds through a welfare programme she started and maintained that it was not the first such treat.
"We had one in Riverton City the Thursday before Christmas and we used the same vehicle and no noise was made about it... and next week we'll be in Retirement in Montego Bay to hand out back-to-school gifts," she said.
Yesterday, Samuda stood up for the waste disposal boss.
"It is the knowledge of the party that Mrs Joan Gordon-Webley has neither violated a moral code nor any legal code in respect to South East St Andrew and that she is not the caretaker, having resigned to take up the post at the NSWMA," he told the Observer.
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