Devon Dick

Tomorrow, the nation votes for councillors and a mayor at the local government polls. However, while local government is important, as a people we have not treated it as such. It is the first point of contact of the citizenry with our political leaders.

Historically, the vestry (now parish council) was responsible for local education and health institutions. It had to administer roads, support the parish church, regulate the markets, license retailers, direct the local police, care for paupers and levy taxes to support these tasks. Unfortunately, the parish councils have been stripped of most of those responsibilities.

Parish councils need to be given responsibilities at the local level for education, health, police force, court administration, the indigent, markets and cemeteries. Government needs to allow parish councils to manage property taxes. In addition, the intention of the Government to give MPs a couple billion dollars to spend should instead be given to parish councils to be used for the benefit of the constituencies in the parish. The MPs could have a veto power. This would lead to greater accountability and better focus on areas that need urgent attention. In addition, it would give greater status to the work of the parochial body.

'No longer important'

Local government was seen as being very influential in the 19th century. It allowed persons of African origin to play a leading role in the development of our democracy and to provide a paradigm for the British Empire. Mimi Sheller, U.S.-born British scholar, said "Democracy was not bestowed by Europe on its colonial periphery, but was bestowed to us in the modern West by the struggles of colonised and enslaved peoples to liberate themselves and to change the world in which they lived" Democracy after Slavery (2000) p. 246. One of the vehicles used was the vestry. Unfortunately, there has been a shift away from viewing local government as important. There has been a concentration of power in central government. A parish council seat is for those who were not able to make the grade as MPs or is used as a stepping stone to become an MP.

Parish council's importance

The vestry was established in 1667. Each vestry then had 12 elected members, 10 vestrymen and two church wardens. The vestry also included the custos, the magistrates and the parish rector as ex-officio members. There are important lessons from the past. The parish council needs to be re-constituted. The custos should be ex-officio at the parish council. The MPs should be ex-officio on the parish council to bring to bear a coordinate approach to the work of the parish and also for the citizens to recognise the importance of the parish council.

The Church also should get more involved in the parish council. At least, members of the Ministers' Fraternal in the parish should perceive it as a part of his or her duty to attend parish council meetings as observers. Ministers' Fraternals need to collaborate more with the parish councillors, inviting them to their meetings and not so much so the MPs and Cabinet ministers. This could lead to the revitalisation of some of our communities.

Try to save money

Another thing is that parish councillors should serve for five years like the MPs. In addition, the voting could take place during the general elections and thereby save some money and elevate the importance of parish councils. This willy nilly way of postponing local government elections is disrespectful.

Let's give more responsibilities and revenue to the parish councils. Let us broaden the personnel on the parochial board. Let us stop bad mouthing parish councils and councillors about their being incompetent. Let us support them by going out and voting for them.