The highly touted Nationwide News Network/Bluedot poll has revealed that a mere 39 per cent of eligible voters intend to cast their ballots on Monday, February 26, 2024. Some political pundits have predicted that an even smaller number is likely to vote as, for them, the local government elections exercise is not worth their while.

In this regard, both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) have entered the fray as if this democratic activity is akin to a general election, thus further relegating the roles and functions of municipal corporations as merely cosmetic, in that, in the very final analysis, it is central government that calls all the shots, with usually the minister of local government being the head cook and bottle washer.

Against this backdrop, it is safe to say that this local government election is likely to be nothing more than a farce as not much will change or improve in terms of service delivery and representation or, at best, especially for diehard supporters of both parties, a frolicsome exercise marked by drinking, eating, and merrymaking, with delirious supporters hanging precariously outside of motor vehicles, putting their lives in danger as the parties criss-cross the island, for the most part focusing on issues that have no immediate bearing on what is really at stake — a reformed, effective local government system that fulfils the principal objectives of the Local Government Act of 2016.

The objectives of the Act are, in part, to:

(a)Establish a national framework with regard to the different types of local authority

(b)Broaden the mandate of local authorities by making them responsible for good governance, sustainable development, and maintenance of civic order within their jurisdictions

(c)Enhance the capacity of local authorities to more effectively manage local affairs by enabling them to exercise powers and perform functions assigned to them

(d)Ensure accountability and transparency on the part of local authorities in the conduct of local affairs, including the use of public resources and exercise of authority

(e) Define the roles of, and relationship between the political and administrative organs of local authorities

(f) Facilitate the participation and empowerment of civil society and communities in local governance processes

(g) Broaden the democratic process to ensure full participation in the local governance system and promote greater inclusiveness and equity for all sectors of the society.

In all fairness and with the greatest level of non-partisan objectivity, no one Jamaican can say that all of these objectives have been sufficiently and satisfactorily achieved, and even now that the elections are looming to elect councillors and chairmen/mayors, there is no meaningful indication that the various aspirants are fully committed to this process. Then again, it is no secret that there is always an ongoing tension between councillors and their Members of Parliament (MPs) as an outstanding representative at the local level may be seen as a threat to a weak MP.

And in most cases, councillors are always strapped for funds to carry out their projects and oftentimes have to go hat in hand to the MPs or local government minister to beg for assistance, which is not always given.

This scenario brings us to the issue of autonomy and the ability of municipal corporations to raise funds at the local level and not be too dependent on central government, which, in many cases, skew its assistance to those councillors who are members of the ruling party, while those of the Opposition party are victims of the “parson must christen him pickney first” syndrome.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is yet to fulfil his promise of establishing a fixed election date. During this election campaign, in order to protect his integrity, Holness should establish a timeline on the way forward or give specific reasons as to why it cannot or should not be done.

Meanwhile, except for the Portmore municipality, all mayors are selected by a closed-door party caucus and it is no secret that it’s the party leadership and not necessarily elected colleagues who have a final say in who becomes mayor. In essence, this is far from being a truly transparent and democratic process which allows for greater levels of accountability to the people.

Against this background, it is imperative that direct election of mayors become an integral part of local government reform so that communities can have a great say in who should be their first citizen in the political directorate and who would be answerable more to the populace rather than to the party or party faithful.

This writer also questions the need to have so many parochial divisions which only create unnecessary layers of bureaucracy in the government system. Then to make matters worse, there is a minister and Ministry of Local Government and Community Development which, quite frankly, speaks to just creating jobs for the boys and expanding the gravy train for the distribution of scarce benefits and spoils. Why, for example, can’t the citizens of Montego Bay elect their own mayor, likewise Mandeville, Savanna-la-Mar, Kingston and St Andrew, etc? Now we hear the prime minister promising to make Clark’s Town in Trelawny a city. So what happens to Falmouth? Yuk!

The bottom line is that grass roots democracy is desperately needed in this country so that the ordinary citizen who does not have certain “links” or “connections” can get better service and is placed in a position to demand a greater level of accountability and transparency.

Both Prime Minister Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding have failed so far to put squarely on the table the urgency of local government reform. As post-Independence leaders they have been found wanting and they must remedy the situation by ensuring that in the upcoming general election their party’s respective manifestos state specifically and unequivocally their plans to ensure that local government is constitutionally enshrined in the new Jamaican Constitution and that empowerment be given priority to this aspect of governance.

For too long local government has been a Cinderella and treated like a bastard child. The people’s business at the local level needs to be legitimised.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved in Jamaican media for the past 48 years. He has served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.