In a recent political development in Kingston, Jamaica, Donovan Samuels, the sitting councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division, has secured the position of minority leader at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).
Following the official appointment announcement, Andrew Swaby, who holds dual roles as Mayor of Kingston and Chairman of KSAMC, issued a public message of congratulations to the new minority leader, underscoring his commitment to collaborative governance across party lines. Swaby made clear he is ready to work constructively alongside Samuels throughout his tenure.
In his first public remarks since taking on the new role, Samuels outlined his core guiding principles for his leadership. He emphasized that his primary goal is to fulfill the responsibility of the minority bloc by applying appropriate checks and pressure on the governing side of the municipal corporation, while rejecting outright confrontation for its own sake.
“It is not my intention to be antagonistic in this working relationship,” Samuels stated. “At the end of the day, the only people we want to see benefit are the communities we are elected to serve.”
Samuels also acknowledged the inherently competitive nature of municipal legislative work, noting that policy disagreements and spirited debate are unavoidable parts of the process. Even when sides clash on key issues, he stressed, the minority caucus will prioritize respectful discourse, focusing on articulating clear, well-reasoned positions to shape policy outcomes rather than engaging in personal conflict or disrespect toward fellow councillors.