CONVENTIONAL wisdom is that the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) — fresh from its surprisingly large victory margin in the December 29, 2011 parliamentary election — will easily carry today’s local government poll.

To begin with, there has hardly been enough time for the shell-shocked Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to reorganise and re-energise itself. Also, it seems to this newspaper, habitual JLP supporters are far more likely to lack motivation and, as a result, will stay away from the polls than their PNP counterparts. This, notwithstanding the pleas from Opposition spokesmen for the electorate to “balance” the PNP’s hold on central government by handing the JLP control of the majority of local authorities.

Regardless of how the results actually pan out tonight, what seems certain is that the turnout will be very, very low with, for the most part, only the hardcore bothering to vote. In any case, the tradition is for voting in local government elections to be much lower than obtains in the parliamentary genre. But based on the abysmal just over 50 per cent turnout on December 29 and the current sense of disinterest and apathy we shouldn’t be surprised if today there is a new record for non-participation.

Much has been said about the disillusionment with the two major political parties which contributed to the low polling on December 29. But in relation to local government, reasons for the lack of interest go well beyond such perceived failings.

Truth be told, many Jamaicans see little relevance in local authority structures as they currently exist. Too many parish councils seem stagnant, stuck in a time long gone.

Those who have had reason to do business with the parish councils, for example in pursuit of building approvals and trade licences, are all too often frustrated by basic inefficiencies and worse, a sense that there is no concept of good customer relations practice. As a backdrop, there are the constant whispers of graft and corruption.

Then there is the lingering suspicion that for political parties, interest in local governance is grounded in the opportunity to reward loyal party workers and train young political aspirants.

Such perceptions have been countered by both parties pledging to reform and modernise the local authority structure. Progressive legislation, more meaningful resource allocation which should allow councils to better execute such essential services as minor water supplies and road maintenance and the allowance of greater responsibility and autonomy form part of the reform process.

The consensus across party lines, as expressed in a Government of Jamaica mission statement, is for such reforms to result in “a strong and vibrant system of local government (to) ensure the attainment of a society in which all citizens enjoy real opportunities to fully and directly participate in and contribute to the management and development of their local communities, and by extension, of the nation”.

Trouble is that Jamaicans have been hearing such talk for 20 years with very little to show. It seems to this newspaper that regardless of the stated good intentions, individual parish councils will have to make a special effort to drastically improve the efficiency of the services they now provide in order to remain relevant. Those elected today must drive that process.