Councillor criticised for kissing woman begging food

Councillor for the Frankfield division in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation Clive Mundle is staunchly defending the kiss on the lips he gave to a woman who asked him for assistance.

The woman, who is known to Mundle, was featured in THE STAR earlier this year. She appealed for assistance as her house is in a deplorable condition and she also struggles to meet her daily food needs. Last Saturday she saw Mundle in Frankfield and approached him for money to buy food. Mundle gave her $1200 and, excited at having her request met, she asked if she could get a kiss. The kiss was captured on camera and has been doing the rounds in various WhatsApp groups and on Facebook.

Mundle, in defending his action, said he thought nothing of it, as he knew the woman was grateful and just wanted to show her appreciation. He said it was the first time that he had even got a request like that, but had no qualms about fulfilling it. He said that since Saturday, he has been receiving both positive and negative feedback, and one person even said they would not vote for him in the upcoming local government election.

"If the situation presented itself again, I would still do it because I don't consider that I have done anything that is inappropriate. I do not scorn anybody. Just because she looks the way she looks, that doesn't mean that I scorn her," he explained. He said his intention was to show her that he didn't scorn her and wanted her to see that everyone is God's creation.

"Just because I might be more fortunate than her, I don't consider myself to be better than her. I not only care for persons on election day, but I show love right through," he said.