EDITORIAL - Who would trust a parish council?

THIS NEWSPAPER agrees conceptually with the proposal by Dr Gladstone Hutchinson for enhanced economic powers to parish councils. But we would have deep trepidation should it be implemented with the current lazy, incompetent lot in place.

In that sensible address to members of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) last week, Dr Hutchinson shared our concern of Jamaica's problem of rural- to-urban migration and skewed regional development. People have followed economic opportunities, mainly to Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

It is a problem that has grown progressively worse over the past half century. It is likely to have gathered new steam, given the stresses on rural economies since the near collapse of the mining sector and the downturn in tourism.

The attendant strain on our urban centres is apparent: their inability to deliver services adequately, blight and decay and high levels of crime.

One solution floated by Dr Hutchinson is to allow the parish councils greater leeway to vary property taxes and other rates and charges "in an effort to attract new business activity". These moves would complement other central government initiatives to encourage broader geographic development.

Lack of confidence

It all makes sense. We, nonetheless, have the same response as when similar ideas have been previously raised: an absolute lack of confidence in the parish councils to operate a credible, transparent, efficient and uncorrupt arrangement.

While Dr Hutchinson's suggestion would perhaps require tweaking of laws and other regulations, the local authorities are not entirely without authority, legal and moral, to do things to encourage businesses that create jobs.

Indeed, the councils can now waive regulatory fees and charges, but usually apply this discretion in favour of non-productive enterprises or to entities that make little or no contribution to the general economy. Government and religious groups tend to be the big beneficiaries. Usually, economic enterprises are encumbered by red tape and expect local bureaucrats to grease a path out frustration.

Largest of the councils

Or, take the case of the largest of the councils, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), which runs the capital, but whose chairman, Mr Desmond McKenzie, after his early bluster, is apparently winded.

Apart from replacing a billboard with his late predecessor's picture with one of his own, Mr McKenzie and his council have done precious little that marks Kingston as a city that is seriously open to business. We can't, for instance, recall during Mr McKenzie's tenure, the KSAC hosting a forum on doing business in Kingston, or even a half-hearted effort or promise to remove anti-business impediments at the KSAC's office. Nor can we recall Mr McKenzie or any of his councillors, as a matter of policy, celebrating a private sector job creation initiative, except, maybe, when they find themselves at some ribbon-cutting event with the hope of being featured in the press.

Mr McKenzie and KSAC are not singular. The anti-private sector encrustation and bureaucratic malfeasance is throughout the system. The parish councillors show little for their wages, apart from becoming greasy with pork. The interminable reform of local government has not helped.

Our suggestion: fire the councillors, hire competent city/regional managers reporting to small, accountable regional boards. Then we can move forward with Dr Hutchinson's plan.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.