MONTEGO BAY, St James — Political commentator Shalman Scott has raised concern over the viability of the Government’s decision to postpone the local government election.

This comes even as the veteran businessman and retired politician supports the Administration’s decision to focus on the country’s economic development after the COVID 19 pandemic.

According to Scott, the decision, which will see the Local Government Election being delayed until February 28, 2024, may be troublesome, as Jamaicans are expected to vote in a general election in 2025.

He told the Jamaica Observer that while it is commendable for the Andrew Holness-led Government to recognise the need to focus heavily on the country’s economy, there are considerations to be had regarding the constitutional arrangements which support elections in Jamaica.

“We are [almost] three years into a constitutionally arranged five-year term of a government and the Local Government Election is going to be put off for another year, so we will be four years into the Government being in office. So what is happening is that delaying this parish council election will see us moving closer towards the constitutional duty for a general election,” Scott said.

He continued, “So attention is to be paid as to what will happen when the election is put off for a year, which brings us closer to the time for the next general election. What sort of a consideration is going to take priority under those circumstances?”

Last Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Desmond McKenzie, in the House of Representatives, announced the Government’s move to delay the election. The election, which is constitutionally due every three years, was last held in November 2016. It was due to be held in November 2020 but was postponed, as the country was still in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was even though a general election was held two months earlier in September of that year.

McKenzie cited the need to establish Portmore as Jamaica’s 15th parish, the lack of a budget to hold an election, and the country’s current economic standing, as the three major reasons for the postponed local polls.

In tabling the Representation of the People (Postponement of Elections to Municipal Corporation and City Municipalities) Act, 2023, McKenzie said, “the Government has weighed the balance and we believe at this time where the country is, the fact that we have to consider important issues — an election is important — but I urge the patience of the country, to understand and respect the decision of the Government”.

McKenzie also pointed to the International Monetary Fund’s latest Article Four Review of the economy, stressing that the country’s economic recovery is still fragile. “We are in a better position than we were last year but it is clear that we are not yet out of the woods. The Government is sharply focused on building national resilience against any further economic shocks; and the expansion and the maintenance of strong economic growth.” According to the minister, the holding of the municipal election now, carried a “significant risk” of diverting the country from those two tasks.

The Electoral Office of Jamaica has indicated that it needs just over $1 billion to hold the election.

Scott, however, raised concerns on whether priority will be placed on holding a local government election come next February with the economic burden that may arise while preparing for the general election a year later.

“When you have a local government election that is already due and we are also moving closer to the five years of the Government in office, with more on the plate of the Government it begs to question as to whether or not a general election is to be called or a parish council election is to be called,” Scott said.

At the same time, Scott told the Sunday Observer that this one year delay will not achieve what the Government is seeking to do for the Jamaican economy. Emphasising that “talk is cheap”, Scott stated that the country will still not be ready for a local government election come next February due to the current state of the economy.

In explaining his viewpoint, Scott pointed to Jamaica’s history with the IMF since 1963. He told the Sunday Observer that of the 16 IMF tests Jamaica has undergone since then, the country has failed to meet the quantitative benchmarks and conditionalities given by the international body in 13 of those.

“To be talking about building the economy is a good aspirational effort. The reality, though, is that a lot has been happening to the Jamaican economy in the last several years, and one of the indicators that determine where we are is the 16 tests that we have undergone with the International Monetary Fund. But the fact of the situation is that of the 16 IMF tests we underwent as a country, we…have only passed three,” Scott said.

He added, “It is interesting to be speaking about improving the economy when the pattern of the deterioration of the economy, and the levels of failures with our international partners, have not indicated that things are operating as they are supposed to be.

“Talk is cheap and we can make many promises as we have done in the past and of course, some of the promises have been fulfilled, but the fact of the matter is that we are heading in serious problems with the International Monetary Fund,” he continued.

Scott further told the Sunday Observer that he agrees there needs to be renewed focus on Jamaica’s economic development and bemoaned what he described as “fancy promises” made by successive governments to fix these issues that have been plaguing the country.

“It does not matter what fancy promises and talk that is going to be offered to the Jamaican people, the evidence of economic dynamics and flow in many areas certainly has not been reflecting the kind of aspiration, prosperity, and wonderful promises that continue to be made by both major political parties in and out of government,” he said.

“We need more immediate and quick action rather than wonderful words being uttered when the evidence of the present economic state and our relationships with our international partners are not showing any impressive evidence,” Scott added.

“The survival of the Jamaican economy requires that we consolidate our economic efforts, and build up the economy which is what the Government is indicating that they intend to do and those aspirations are good, it is just that we have heard all of this before from successive governments,” said the political commentator.