THE People’s National Party (PNP), led by President Mark Golding, has listed a fixed date for local government election, additional municipalities and the direct election of all mayors, among a raft of measures it says it will implement if it forms the Government.

With the local government elections just three days away, the party on Thursday released a position paper dubbed “PNP Policy Priorities for Local Government” in which it claimed that it has consistently recognised the pivotal role of local government as the catalyst for genuine national development and progress.

“We advocate for local government because we believe that participatory democracy should be firmly grounded in community involvement and decision making at the local level within a robust framework of accountability, with the objective of ensuring a better quality of life for both individuals and communities,” said the PNP.

“Participatory democracy involves a distinctive form of representation that actively listens and responds to people, prioritises service delivery to enhance community well-being, and strives to generate economic and social opportunities in collaboration with the people,” added the PNP after listing what it said were its notable achievements in local government up to 2007 and again during the 2012-2016 period when it formed the Government.

In a section headlined “Community Development and Citizen Security”, the PNP said it would treat crime and violence as a public health issue and will use a multifaceted approach to citizen security by targeting anti-social behaviour and violent crime at the local level.

“Through these initiatives, the PNP aims to create safer, more vibrant, and resilient communities that foster the well-being of every Jamaica citizen,” the party said.

Turning to health care, the PNP argued that initiatives in this area must start at the local level and said it would collaborate with local businesses and organisations to facilitate wellness programmes and initiatives within communities.

The party also vowed to expand mental health services at the community level, while incorporating advanced medical and public health technologies to address issues related to rodents and pathogens.

In addressing access and accountability, the PNP said it will require municipal corporations to become more transparent by publishing their annual budgets in print, electronic and social media.

The party also committed to modernise minor water supplies, improve the internal road network and enforce the Building Act to ensure that buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.

“When the PNP forms [the] Government we will ensure that the Jamaica people have access to beaches and rivers for recreational purposes, amending the Beach Control Act to provide rights of access.

“In the meantime, the municipal corporations controlled by the PNP will prioritise maintaining the facilities at the beaches under their control in a decent condition for use and comfort of the public,” promised the PNP.

According to the PNP, its new vision for local government will include fixed election date entrenched in the constitution, “so that the anti-democratic abuse of annual legislative amendments to extend the election date cannot be repeated”.

On the issue of garbage collection, the PNP said it will return this responsibility to the municipal corporations and require the National Solid Waste Management Authority to concentrate on regulation and effective enforcement.

“This strategic move deepens democratic accountability by ensuring [that] elected local representatives are directly responsible to citizens for efficient garbage collection,” said the PNP as it promised to launch public education initiatives on garbage separation and sorting at the household and commercial levels.

In its section on the economy, the PNP said it will establish community enterprise zones to stimulate investment and fortify economic activity within communities.

The party added that it will introduce new regulations to address street food vending, barbers and others to foster a conducive and safe environment for these economic activities.

“Our vision is to stimulate inclusive economic growth by unleashing the creative economic energy of our people at the local level.

“The entertainment sub-sector of the creative industries, driven by community social initiatives, serves as a source of income in communities. The PNP is committed to simplifying and making the laws governing the entertainment sector user-friendly, transparent and accessible, with a one-stop shop for event approvals and an elimination of the use of permits to victimise communities. A digital platform will be implemented for the issuance of permits, facilitating better planning and execution of entertainment events,” said the party.

It also promised to review vending regulations and ensure dignified treatment for vendors by prescribing spaces with requisite services, and implementing proper zoning for market transformation.