PPP/C Region Four Councillor Kwame McCoy has been banned from speaking at meetings of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) until he apologises or withdraws two offensive comments he allegedly made against Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette. McCoy, however, told this newspaper that he is innocent and said that he will not apologise.

Kwame McCoy

According to a release from the Region Four RDC office, McCoy made a false statement and a threatening remark against the regional chairman. It said further that when he was called upon to apologise by another councillor, he refused.

According to the release, the council, by an overwhelming majority, subsequently decided that McCoy must apologise and withdraw the statements or face disciplinary action. Until he apologises, the RDC said, McCoy has also been barred from speaking at any meetings of the committees of the council.

Contacted yesterday, McCoy denied that he ever issued any untrue or threatening remark against the chairman and added that he has nothing to apologise for. He said he intends to challenge the decision and will attend future meetings and will speak when he has something to say.
McCoy accused Corlette of being domineering at council meetings. He claimed that on countless occasions, the chairman has had run-ins with various councillors, including those from his own party. He said the chairman usually attempts to censor him, as well as other councilors, at the RDC meetings. He added that at last month’s meeting of the RDC, the chairman attempted to implement a policy which stated that if councillors wished to speak at a meeting they had to notify him beforehand as well as indicate the topic they wished to speak on. Corlette would then determine whether they could speak or not.

Clement Corlette

Mc Coy said the entire issue came about because he had questioned Corlette’s authority to resuscitate a bank account which had been closed. According to the PPP/C councillor, he indicated that based on the Financial Management and Accounta-bility Act (FMAA) only the Regional Executive Officer had authority to re-open the account, and the chairman did not take kindly to his objection.