THE resignation last week of Ms. Marcia Pitt as Councillor for the Stony Hill Division has brought to three the number of divisions in the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) without a directly elected representative. Two have been without representation for more than a year.Under the provisions of both the Parish Councils Act and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation Act, Local Government elections are due no later than June of every third year, after the previous election.
The last one was held on September 10, 1998. After several postponements, the Government has again pushed back the local polls to next year.
At the same time, at least two constituencies, South East St. Ann and North West St. James, have not had an MP since the resignations last year of Messrs Seymour Mullings and Francis Tulloch, respectively.
It may well be argued that the holding of by-elections any time soon would be a waste of resources. But the prolonged delay in having the by-elections must be serious cause for concern and questioning of the Government's frequently stated commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
At the very least, political expediency is at work here, where the party that now forms the Government does not wish to be confronted again with the potential embarrassment of losing another seat to its opponents as happened in North East St. Ann in 2001. The effect would be to further undermine its authority to govern.
In the cut and thrust of political activity, it is to be expected that parties will seek to do all in their power to maintain an advantage over their opponents.
There is a greater principle to be considered, however, and that is that the interests of constituents should be effectively represented by someone chosen by a majority through the regular holding of elections.
Public officials must have a mandate from the people to govern. By ignoring this principle, the Government undermines the very institutions and systems it has sworn to uphold.
It is perhaps too late in the day to expect a correction of the prevailing situation ahead of the general election promised for later this year, but it is incumbent on the wider society to insist that no Government ever again be allowed to treat in so cavalier a manner, a people's right to have representatives of their choice in the municipal councils and in the nation's Parliament.
We note that Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told reporters at Vale Royal week before last Friday that he would support legislation for by-elections to be held within a certain timeframe after MPs resign. Civil society should lobby to ensure that this stated support is translated into concrete action.
