PERHAPS THE Councillors and spokesmen for the People's National Party (PNP) are speaking the truth that the walkout by their representatives from three Parish Council meetings and the threatened disruption of a fourth on Thursday were coincidental and unplanned. We are, of course, sceptical.
In the normal cut and thrust of politics at the national and local level, it's expected that contenders will go for the jugular at times, to score points. Given the balance of power in the Parish Councils in favour of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and the control of the purse strings by Central Government, the temptations for the PNP Councillors to keep their opponents off-balance must be particularly enticing. The JLP representatives on the other hand are seemingly determined to ensure that they get as much credit as possible for the projects that are going well, and that little of the 'glory' be shared with their opponents.
Political representatives are expected to be vigorous in defending the interests of their constituents as well as the public purse and proper procedure in the conduct of the Councils' affairs. None of these weightier matters seemed however to have been at the forefront of the minds of the Councillors who stormed out of the various monthly parish meetings on Thursday.
The problem for them, is that the trivialising of issues to score political points may well give them some satisfaction in the short term, but will, in the long run, do as much damage to their interests as to the Opposition's. The Jamaican public has long grown impatient with the juvenile antics that have characterised the meetings in council chambers across the island over several years.
Chairman of the JLP Bruce Golding recently expressed concern that Parish Councils were being starved of funds as part of a deliberate strategy to undermine the effectiveness of the JLP Councillors and Mayors. This may or may not be true, but happily, some Councils have found ways to do a better job of serving the public's interest by being more efficient and creative in their efforts to collect revenue through existing fee structures.
We remind the Parish Councillors that they were elected, to serve the public's interests above all other considerations and not primarily those of partisan supporters.
It's time for councillors to get on with the serious business of addressing the real concern of the public, that of transforming rural areas and townships into better-managed municipalities, and be less concerned with politicking and one-upmanship.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
