Who would have thought that living in a third world country would mean people are satisfied with the situations in their communities.

Jamaica Elections visited Crossroads to find out what people want to be done in their communities. Undoubtedly, you would expect to hear after a prolonged rainy season that the roads need to be fixed, bushing needs to be done, the drainage need to be clean and ‘di yutes dem need work’. However, to the team’s surprise none of the respondents had a single wish. Or were they just disinterested in the Local Government Elections?

Fortunately, Collet Brown an Admin Assistant from the Portmore Municipality was willing to participate. She made three wishes:

• A peaceful and fair election,
• For the better party to win, and
• For her councillor to vouch for a hospital in Portmore.

The question we should therefore ask is how can we change the political culture in our country to ensure that Jamaicans become more interested in politics and the plight for good governance.

So what do you think? Leave your comments below.

For as long as most Jamaicans can remember elections have been a part of our life. We as Jamaicans however, have sometimes taken elections too seriously and end up doing thing we have come to regret. Through the years, elections have brought a form of pitch-black darkness over the island called crime.

Even with the amount of support we give to politics, many Jamaicans still don’t know the roles of the political representatives in our communities.

With Local Government Elections underway JamaicaElections.com has made it our duty to educate the public about what they should expect from the various councillors in their area. The following is a documentation of the core functions and duties of councillors in Jamaica:

• To collectively ensure, with other Councilors, that mandated responsibilities of the Council are properly executed;

• To have collective responsibility for management of the affairs of the parish, including that available resources are utilized in the most cost-effective way to address the needs of citizens/communities, and towards the holistic development of the parish;

• To provide political leadership towards forging consensus among all stakeholders in the parish in respect to local policy options and development objectives, and to mobilize public support for decisions/initiatives of the Council;

• To effectively represent the citizens and communities of the Division for which he/she has been elected.

• To spearhead and facilitate community initiatives towards their own development, and the forging of strong linkages between the council and the local communities.

Qualifications
The Parish Council Act sets out the qualifications for a councillor in Jamaica. Under the act no individual shall be qualified to be elected, or take office, or have the right to vote as a member of the Parish Council in any Parish if:

1. That person is less than 18 years old or is not able to read and write English;

2. That person is not registered in the Parish he/she is seeking representation;

3. That person is bankrupt and has not been discharged by the courts or creditors of these debts;

4. That person is subject to the Civil Service Establishment Act;

5. That person is promoting his/her financial interest in business deals with any Parish Council;

6. That person is a member of the House of Representatives.

7. The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) requires that the person must have established residence for twelve months immediately before the day of election.

For more information on matters concerning Local Government contact the Office of the Prime Minister:
Local Government (Communications Department)
85 Hagley Park Road
Kingston 10
Jamaica W.I.
Tele: (876) 754-0992-9
Fax: (876) 754-1011
Web: www.jis.gov.jm

Clarendon Mayor Milton Brown is a true achiever. Among his many accomplishments, Mayor Brown has completed an honours degree in Electrical Engineering and attained a diploma in education for Mathematics at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Growing up, he was always known as an analytical individual and he saw politics as an opportunity to address problems affecting persons around him.

“The major issues affecting Clarendon now are bad drains, bad roads and lack of proper water supply, which we are working on. However, what I can say has been our greatest achievement so far is the parish’s beautification project, traffic signs are 80 percent complete, and the social wellness of the citizens has improved. I am also proud of the fact that there are 11 members from both the Opposition and the Government parties working together as one.”

Mayor Brown predicts a handsome win for the Jamaica Labour Party in today’s Local-Government Elections.

As the saying goes, “You have to work for what you want”, Mayor of Portmore, George Lee has truly been an example of working hard for what you want.

Mayor Lee has been a part of man many boards and committees including the Portmore Citizens Association. “The process of municipality is too slow and hampered by ministers and the government. I entered politics to afford me the opportunity to push community development, but more importantly, municipality.”

Mayor Lee has stated that the main issues affecting Portmore are unemployment and bad roads because of the recent heavy rains.

Despite these issues, Mayor Lee reports new developments for the municipality. These include the building of a new hospital by next February, new road signs, landscaping and park building.

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Voters on Election Day…

Voters have been trickling in to the polling stations islandwide for the Local Government Elections.

473 candidates are down to contest the parish council elections.

456 candidates are representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Peoples’ National Party (PNP), while there are three (3) from the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and three (3) from the Imperial Ethiopian World Federation (IEWF). 11 persons are running as independent candidates.

Both the PNP and JLP have noinated a mayoral candidate for the Portmore Municipality.

Jamaica Elections journeyed to Crossroads on December 4, to find out if the electorate would be voting in the local government elections and why? Though many were unsure if they would vote today, the majority believe that the JLP will win this election. Take a look at some of the responses below.

Vera Davis, Records Clerk

• Q. Will you be voting in this election?
  A. I am not sure as yet if I will vote.
• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. I think the JLP will win because it seems as if the people still want them. As such the majority of Jamaicans will vote for them.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. I was not aware that the election is on his birthday, but I don’t think people will vote on that basis.

Everton Thomas, Firefighter

• Q. Will you be voting in this election?
  A. I am not sure if I will vote because neither of the two parties are doing anything for the country. ‘Same ole-same ole’.
• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. I think it will be a close one, so I can’t pick a winner.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. No, I don’t think they will. Up to this point he has not fulfilled some of the promises he made to the people.

Mr. McDonald, Chef

• Q. Will you be voting in this election?
  A. I am not going to vote. I am keeping away far from it as possible!
• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. I don’t have a clue about who will win.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. Maybe people will give him a good birthday present or a bad one.

Sinone Byfield, Teacher

• Q. Will you be voting in this election?
  A. No I won’t vote because I am not on the voters list.
• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. Labah! Because the people voted for them in the election so I would assume that they want to keep the change.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. No it won’t have any impact, the people want a change and they will continue with it.

Kevin Harry and Jelissa Fox, Students

• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. The JLP will win because they are a legitimate government, unlike the PNP a bunch of corruption. JLP also have a better approach to government.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. No. People already have their minds set on whom they will vote for.

Dawn Robinson, Teacher

• Q. Will you be voting in this election?
  A. Yeah man, I voting!
• Q. Who will win the Local Government Election and why?
  A. I think the JLP will win. I don’t think the PNP people will go out to vote but the JLP people are more enthusiastic so they will go out to vote.
• Q. Do you think that December 5, being Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s birthday will have an impact on how people vote ?
  A. I think it may have an impact on how people vote.

What are your thoughts? Post your comments below.

Since 2003 Local Government reform has been a hot topic in Jamaica. The reforms are expected to deepen the democratic process by allowing citizens to play a more active role in key aspects of governance.

The proposed reforms would allow for:

• The provision of quality local services
• Responsiveness of government to the needs and views of citizens and communities
• Allow the establishment of a model of governance, which can meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Local Government Reform is also critical to:

• Constitutional reform
• Community empowerment
• Political reform
• Poverty eradication, and
• Public sector reform.

To achieve these reforms, parish councils and the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) have already reassigned the functions and responsibilities they enjoyed prior to the mid 1980’s. There has also been a reduction in the level at which councils must depend on central government for financial support, allowing the councils to respond more swiftly to the needs of the citizens.

What is your response to this attempt to broaden the democratic process? Do you think Jamaica is moving in the right direction to ensure that the democratic process is indeed broadened? Or do you think this will be just another ‘talking shop’?

Have your say and comment below.

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Jamaica votes again…

The polls are now open for Local Government Elections. 473 candidates are down to contest the parish council elections.

456 candidates are representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Peoples’ National Party (PNP), while there are three (3) from the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and three from the Imperial Ethiopian World Federation (IEWF).

11 persons are also running as independent candidates.

Both the PNP and JLP have nominated a mayoral candidate for the Portmore Municipality.

The last local government elections were held in 2003. The JLP won all the parish council seats except for Westmoreland. The party also prevailed in the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

However, the PNP won the Portmore Municipality resulting in George Lee becoming the country’s first directly elected mayor.

The PNP later added the Portland Parish Council to its tally after Mayor Benny White left the JLP to side with the PNP, shifting the balance of power.

CAFFE ready…
The election observer group, Citizens For Free And Fair Elections, CAFFE reported that its volunteers would be in all parishes for the local elections.

CAFFE Director Nancy Anderson said despite a decrease in the number of volunteers she is confident that they are adequately prepared to carry out the task.

CAFFE also announced that a report on the September 3 General Elections and today’s local government polls will be made available early next year.

Police on election prepardness…
The Police High Command reported that its security plans for the election include particular attention to areas, which have a history of violence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett highlighted sections of East Kingston, Clarendon and St Thomas.

He also revealed the police have an organised management structure to ensure adequate coverage of the elections across the country.

DCP Scarlett also appealed to members of the public to contact 119, Crime Stop or Operation Kingfish in cases where they notice suspicious activity.

EOJ implements changes…
Director of Elections, Danville Walker for the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) revealed certain changes were now in place to ensure that legitimate voters are not prevented from casting their ballots today.

These changes should reduce the number of incidents in which political outdoor agents tell legitimate voters that they are not registered to cast their ballots.

During the September 3 General Election several outdoor agents reportedly misinformed registered voters.

Mr. Walker also urged electors to take their identification cards with them when they go out to vote.

Ask most Jamaicans what the responsibilities of Local Government are and you will be surprised at their responses. Most persons seem to know little or nothing about what councillors do, what they are expected to do as well as who they are.

Although Local Government representatives will be elected today, December 5, few voters realise how their participation will influence policies and decisions at the local and national level. The Local Government “mandate is to involve civil society and local communities in the process of governance, thereby giving the community an opportunity to influence the policies and decisions affecting their lives,” (Ministry of Local Government Website).

The Jamaican electorate elects their representatives, who become employed as councillors at the Parish Council for a three-year period. According to Mayor of May Pen Milton Brown, councillors represent their divisions at the Parish Council and Local Government levels on issues affecting the people.

“When a citizen reports a problem in their community a technical team from the Parish Council will assess the problem and the council will then source the funding … Councillors write appeals to relevant companies, members of parliament and other persons on the behalf of their divisions to address problems in their communities,” he stated.

Brown was quick to dispel any ambiguity surrounding the involvement of citizens in the Parish Council. According to him citizens are allowed to come to the monthly meetings of the council and are also members of different council committees. Citizens can also call the parish council to get in contact with their councillors, if they are having difficulties locating them.

He also stated that councillors should enlist the views of the public in matters relating to community infrastructure and developmental matters. Thereby ensuring the public are true partners when it comes to the development of their community. The parish council, has responsibility for:

• Poor relief
• Minor road maintenance
• Bushing of unoccupied lands
• Maintenance of drainage
• Markets and
• Minor water supply systems.

Did You Know ?

• The concept of Local Government began in 1663. It was first established in Jamaica by Governor Sir Thomas Modyford and was called the Vestry System.
• In 1866 the Vestry was superseded by the Parochial Boards.
• The Parochial Boards established Law 22 of 1=867 to reduce the number of parishes from 22 to 14.