Prime Minister Bruce Golding and state minister Robert Montague have instruc-ted the Portmore Municipal Council to tighten its belt by trimming a four-person delega-tion which will visit the United States.

The delegation is slated to travel to Lakeland in central Florida on May 18 to participate in a signing ceremony for the twinning of the two municipalities.

Mayor Keith Hinds told attendees at a council meeting last Wednesday that the global economic conditions required public officials to commit to more austere spending policies.

"I do not want any problem when this announcement is made, as we are aware that the times are difficult and we have to cut back," said Hinds.

"We have two options - either cut back or cancel," he added.

The decision met stiff opposition from Deputy Mayor Owen Saunderson, who said the municipal council was an autonomous body and should not be influenced by the federal political directorate.

However, the mayor's view was endorsed by councillor for the Westchester division, Shane Dalling, who said his colleagues should spend more time addressing the problems in their divisions instead of focusing on overseas travel.

''Go to your division and represent the people who elected you and stop worrying about who is going to travel on the next trip.

"Some councillors don't even go into the division. Maybe it's because they are not flying there," Dalling reasoned.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com