D.K. Duncan LOCAL GOVERNMENT consultant Keith Miller, reminds us that the number of parishes in Jamaica started at seven when they were first introduced in the 1660s. Our local government system began on that basis. Rising in number to 22 by 1841, Jamaica eventually settled for 14 parishes in 1867.
Since then, as the Ministry of Local Government's document on "A regional framework for Local Government and Development" reminds us we have not reviewed the parish-based system of Local Government.
AGREEMENT ON STRUCTURE
The two major political parties seem to be agreed on radical changes to this parish-based system while not advocating any numerical or geographical changes in the parishes. The People's National Party (PNP) has proposed four "regional authorities". This involves the use of economic bases to group together various parishes or parts of parishes. The Jamaica Labour Party, in its 2002 manifesto, proposes four "regional councils" based on the county structure in Jamaica plus the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
There should be no difficulty with the electorate or the general public agreeing to this kind of rationalisation, which is essentially the reduction of the numbers of "authorities" or "councils" from 13 to four. It should also prepare us for the near term, which involves the transition to E-Government.
The PNP, in its last two administrations and particularly through the Ministry of Local Government, has done extensive work on proposals for reform. This work accelerated in 1994 with the establishment of a Local Government Reform Unit. Detailed proposals were put forward in a Green Paper tabled in Parliament in June 2001. A well-known public manifestation of this work was the squabble over the property tax regime in 2002. Another is the recent announcement of Portmore as a Municipality and the decision to directly elect a mayor.
In its recent manifesto, the JLP also support the idea of a Portmore Municipal Council but more recently has expressed misgivings about its financing. The JLP has also proposed that the constitution be amended to define the period of Local Government. The last two periods have been eight years and five years respectively, although three years is the scheduled term.
While the JLP is very short on details for Local Government Reform, there does not appear, at this time, to be any significant philosophical or ideological difference between them and the PNP However, differences in perception definitely exist.
PERCEPTIONS
The PNP has always been clear on the need for the deepening of democracy. As a consequence, the notion of the widest and deepest participation has always been at the top of the PNP's agenda. On the other hand, the JLP claims that the need for financial accountability has been the main reason for the perception that they are anti-Local Government. The JLP has been associated with the dissolution of the St. Catherine Parish Council (P.C.) in 1949, the Trelawny P.C. in 1954, Portland P.C. in 1963 and the KSAC in 1964 and 1984. In addition, as the Ministry Document of June 5, 2001 points out - "The JLP was therefore being consistent, when on the 16th of April 1985, its Minister of Local Government brought a notion to Parliament to amend the Parish Council's act in order to reduce the powers and authority of Local Government, apportioning its major functions to centrally directed agencies and institutions".
Among the services transferred to Central Government were Poor Relief, Public Health, Water Supplies, Road Construction and Maintenance, Fire Brigade and Public Sanitation. The JLP argues that all of this was done in the name of financial accountability. Under the PNP, many of these services have been returned to the local authorities with some provisions for financing.
CHALLENGES
The JLP will need to convince the country of its concern not only for financial accountability but also the other critical areas of governance. The PNP has a challenge to convince the electorate that the problems of financial management will be significantly less at the local level than those presently being experienced at the national level.
It will, however, take some time for the general public to acquire the confidence that Parish Councils/Authorities are capable of effective, efficient delivery of services with accountability. What is very clear is that there is very little enthusiasm by the general public either for the upcoming Local Government Elections or for the issues surrounding its reform.
If both parties are agreed on structural changes, the need for financial viability, the underpinning of participatory methodologies as well as transparency and accountability, then some measure of confidence as well as realistic expectations could return to the nation. One Love, One Heart.
A dental surgeon, Dr. D.K. Duncan is a former General Secretary and Government Minister in the PNP Administration of the 1970s. E-mail: dktruth@hotmail .com
