Quick-fix tactics
published: Friday | June 25, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

RECENTLY, THE Prime Minister of Jamaica called for the cleaning of Ocho Rios. In the June 24, 2004, Gleaner Cornwall Edition, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, proposed a development and beautification programme for all the major townships in Westmoreland as a means of opening the door to future development.

While both proposals have good intentions, they represent the same quick-fix tactics of dealing with the symptoms rather than a strategic plan to solve the problem. The facts are if we had a functioning local system of government, the highly touted economic development and beautification programme would be the norm and the resort town of Ocho Rios would be clean. Therefore, to resolve the symptoms of garbage pile-ups, lack of economic development and beautification, we must change the current structure of local governance.

Within the broad context of local government reform, as a first step, we must FREE our small and large towns from the out-dated models, local political dinosaurs, called the Parish Councils. People residing in places such as Old Harbour, Linstead, Ocho Rios and Little London must be given the rights to directly elect their NON-POLITICAL Mayor and Town Council that would have the globally accepted local responsibilities of beautification, garbage collection and local economic improvement.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL BROWN

miguelbro@yahoo.com

Washington, DC

Via Go-Jamaica