Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Left: Victor Cummings, outgoing Central Kingston MP.   Right: Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie. - File Photos

A RIVETING contest is in the offing for the post of Mayor of Kingston, in what is likely to be the capital city's first direct election for the office.

Victor Cummings, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Central Kingston, has confirmed that he will be a candidate for the post of mayor. His likely major opponent is the incumbent, Desmond McKenzie, who has gained widespread recognition for his efforts in this challenging job over the last three and a half years.

Mayor McKenzie told The Gleaner that he would have a run for the job "if I am confident that I would garner the necessary public support".

Mr. Cummings' preliminary worries might have been eased somewhat, with confirmation that one of his party's potential rival for the job has decided not to run for the Kingston mayorship. The People's National Party's Angella Brown Burke told The Gleaner that she would not seek the job, preferring to "focus on building the system of participatory governance in local government".

If the Local Government Minister, Dean Peart, has his way, the stage will be set for direct election of several mayors, including Kingston's, possibly by mid-year. Mr. Peart said the process towards making this possible was moving apace. As part of that process, he said that the local government ministry was engaged in consultations with the parish councils and community groups. Another important step will be taken later this month when a parliamentary committee begins examining the proposal.

The minister stressed that he wanted to complete these preliminary steps by the end of March, in time for Cabinet consideration and approval in April. Thereafter, he said, drafting instructions would be given to the office of the Chief Parliamentary Council for the necessary legislation to be prepared. "I want the Prime Minister to have the option of having the Local Government polls, with these changes in place, as early as possible," he said.

In anticipation of that eventuality, Mr. Cummings is already dusting off his resume. An urban planner and lawyer, he worked with the New York City planning department and has engaged in 'extensive research' on local government. Locally, he represented the Allman Town division in the KSAC, before moving up to Gordon House, after being elected to fill the vacant Central Kingston seat in October 2002. For his part, Mayor McKenzie is looking forward to a new regime, including direct election, arguing that this would "go a far way in liberating and giving more freedom to the councils and allowing mayors to operate in isolation of the two political parties."

That, he contends, would empower the city of Kingston and other municipalities to facilitate enhanced business activities and the lives of residents.

In 2003, Portmore in St. Catherine became the first community to choose its mayor in direct election. That experiment has worked well, according to the local government minister. Mayor McKenzie contends, on the other hand, that the Portmore model does not go far enough, placing too many constraints on the individual councillors. The new regime for Kingston and St. Andrew and the other councils should be more empowering, he said.

As for his own chances at direct election, Desmond McKenzie holds no fear: "If I should go by the sentiments and letters of commendations from the people then I think if and when that time comes and I am up for it then I should do very well," he asserted.