Peter EspeutWHETHER WE realise it or not, the method of governance we choose has always been a matter of life and death! Now a young student at Merl Grove High School the niece of a friend of mine has lost her life partly if not wholly because of top-down governance procedures and lack of consultation.
What is the problem? Merle Grove schoolchildren arrive by bus on the east side of Constant Spring Road and need to cross the road to enter the school compound. For years there was a pedestrian crossing in front of the school, at some times of the day served by a school traffic warden. It seems to have worked well for years.
Enter the National Works Agency (NWA). They decide to widen the road in front of the school a very necessary and welcome move; but as old time people say, "It is not what you do, it is how you do it." In good old-fashioned top-down government style without discussing the matter with school authorities, they remove the pedestrian crossing in front of the school. Now I am not going to question whether it was necessary to move the pedestrian crossing, at least while construction was taking place; but even courtesy should demand at least advising the school, even if you do not consult them further. Of course they contacted the school about acquiring the land needed to widen the road, but not about the safety and convenience of the children.
MATTER OF COURTESY:
But this is not just a matter of courtesy: this is a matter of good planning. Merl Grove is a stakeholder in that part of Constant Spring Road, and if you have a plan to make changes to Constant Spring Road they should be part of the planning process so that the new arrangements not only suit them, but optimise their operations. Of course, that is if you believe in participatory planning; in the old monarchical style you do what you want, and the plebes better like it!
And so in the absence of a plan, the school traffic warden continued to assist schoolchildren to cross the road in front of the school, because as far as the school was aware, the pedestrian crossing would be replaced when road construction was complete. And in the absence of the warden, the students continued to cross there. And now a young girl has lost her life! Shameful!
In fine dictatorial style the NWA has issued a press release that the school should desist from assisting the students across the road in front of the school, and should tell them to use the pedestrian crossing the NWA has erected by the traffic lights. Now really!
Civil engineers may know how to build roads, but some of them seem to lack civility and simple interpersonal skills. I and others have the same problem with other engineer-dominated organisations. What is so difficult about sitting with school authorities during the planning phase and working out what the final arrangements for bus stops and pedestrian crossings could be (that would best help the school), and what the interim arrangements would be while construction is taking place? Too difficult, it would seem!
PROBLEM ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
I find this same problem across the government service. Even when they are told to "Consult! Consult!", even when they sign a contract which binds them to consult, they seem to find it hard. There is a mindset in government a culture of "A we rule!". It is the greatest obstacle to the participation of civil society in governance.
And now the life of a young girl has been lost, a young girl who as a young woman could have made a difference to Jamaica. I offer condolences to her family, and to the school community which is in shock. NWA: please change your ways! You must do better! Your present approach is too expensive!
And we can't leave the subject without pointing out that our driving habits in Jamaica leave much to be desired. Even those of us who obtained our licences legally need to remember the Road Code, and must discipline ourselves. The authorities need to make sure everyone who possesses a driver's licence actually passed a competency test, and that every vehicle with a fitness certificate actually passed a fitness test. We are much too careless with human life in this country, and many must share the blame.
Is there actually a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets? The large numbers of bareheaded motorcyclists I see each day leads me to wonder. Is there actually a law prescribing the maximum number of persons to be carried in taxis and buses? It is the rare public passenger vehicle I observe (and I do look) that does not have passengers squeezed up against one another like hogs and goats on the way to the abattoir. If a legal taxi or bus is overloaded, are the passengers covered by insurance in the event of an accident?
If we respect life, then it must be visible in the conditions under which we are made to live. The full participation of civil society in governance is no longer just a nice catchphrase, rolling smoothly off the tongue; it is the only way democracy can have real meaning. It is a matter of life and death!
Peter Espeut is a sociologist and is executive director of an environment and development NGO.
