THE EDITOR, Sir:
A NUMBER of issues have invoked my concern and forced me to raise certain questions:
1. Would any police force anywhere else tear-gas the Mayor of the capital city?
2. Is Desmond McKenzie the First Citizen of the city and what does it mean to say 'His Worship the Mayor, Hon. D. McKenzie'.
3. Should the national police take responsibility for municipal affairs or is the matter of marches one that should be regulated by city government, including a set fee and the consequent grant of permission?
4. Why can municipal govern-ment and its revenues not be separated from the national corpus so that municipal authorities are not always answerable to the overarching state for every minutiae of city life?
5. Is this matter (Q 4) an issue for the constitutional process?
If others believe, as I do, that Jamaica is ripe for a federal system - with nation, parish and city being separated, is this not as opportune a time as any for this process to be set in train? In a federal system, the national government really acts as referee on most issues while the parishes and municipalities carry out their duties. This would eliminate much of the pork barrel politics in Jamaica and present the people with a more democratic system. We have outgrown the outmoded Central Government style - hence the haemorrhaging and suffocation as people demand answers and the right to participate. The Canadian system, though imperfect, is ideal. It has been made to work and is more accountable.
TAKE THE JCF OUT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
One last facetious question. Is it not true to say that it is the Mayor who rules the city and that both the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police are mere squatters in his kingdom? That was the reality behind Washington D.C., Canberra, Ottawa and Brasilia. Take national police (the Jamaica Constabulary Force) out of municipal affairs.
When the national police see fit to abuse the Mayor of our capital city in this way, is it any wonder that we have cases of Michael Gayle and a host of others being shot down in cold blood, without proper answers?
Federalise the system and get central government out of municipal politics. It is the police who should ask the mayor for permission, not the other way around. Keep fighting Desmond! No pain, no gain.
I am, etc.,
CLIVE OCNACUWENGA
Gregory Park, P.O. Box 83
St. Catherine
