THE EDITOR, Sir:I'M A Jamaican living in the United States. I have been travelling back and forth between the U.S. and Jamaica for quite some time and I have always been interested in politics in Jamaica. Recently, I was reading an article regarding the issue of local
government, where Portia Simpson, minister of local
government, stated that there is a greater need for participation of parish councils in the running of the parish and that more power needs to be shared between the local government and the national government. So, I decided to look in the constitution as to what is the role of local government, what it can and cannot do. To my dismay, there was no mention of parish council in the constitution.
MAJOR ROLE NEEDED
In a parliamentary system that is bicameral, there should be a major role for local government parliament should make the
system truly bicameral and amend the constitution to include rights apportioned to parish councils that do not abridge that of parliament, but rights that are effective enough to make parish councils an effective part of the government. Parish councils, as they exist today, are elected bodies with no teeth. They are literally there at the whims of the national government to do as it pleases.
Parish councils can be an effective tool in administering the policies of the state. Furthermore, if given certain rights under the constitution, there is absolutely no doubt that parish councils could affect the lives of more Jamaicans. More people would be willing to
participate in government, because they would be able to go to their local parish council office and get things done. They would be able to communicate more with their local representatives.
NO COUNCILLOR AT HOME
I believe one of the reason why so many Jamaicans are so disillusioned with government and choose not to participate in the functions of government is that when their member of parliament is elected and goes off to Kingston, they do not get to see them again until the next election. Parish councils would be the
conduit to that their local
representative is always home. So, let's make the system truly
bicameral and give parish councils more constitutional power.
I am, etc.,
ROY DEWAR
j5bro2@aol.com
Bronx, New York
Via Go-Jamaica
