Safe political seats breed contempt for the people
One thing that stood out in the videos and photos from the Old Capital last Friday following the police killing of the gang leader known as Termite, and the subsequent bouts of protests from his supporters, was the dirty, shabby embarrassment that is Spanish Town.
No one could miss the streets littered with garbage, abandoned buildings standing as monuments to urban decay, and even in photos and videos you could imagine the stink — the stench of neglect hanging heavy in the air.
Spanish Town is grimy and mucky. Potholed roads and crumbling sidewalks are hazards to pedestrians and motorists alike, yet repairs are sporadic, often coming only after protests. The town’s lack of effective waste management systems is glaringly apparent. Piles of rubbish accumulate on the sidewalks and in neglected corners, complemented by stagnant water — lots of it in broken drains in front of businesses and flowing freely on the streets. The town’s infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of neglect, so much neglect.
The lack of investment in basic maintenance reflects a fundamental failure on the part of the municipal authority. They should bear the brunt of the blame for allowing such filth to proliferate unchecked. And this sorry state of affairs is not a product of happenstance, but rather the result of systematic failures on the part of those elected to serve.
When citizens’ needs are consistently neglected it erodes their sense of pride in their communities. This leads to disconnect and apathy. Civic pride is intricately linked to good municipal governance. Conversely, poor governance marked by inefficiency or neglect can erode pride.
When politicians know they have a secure hold on their seats, they have little incentive to invest time, effort, or resources into addressing the pressing needs of their communities. Safe seats have bred complacency and neglect, and the absence of genuine competition leads to a lack of accountability.
Is it that those in the St Catherine Municipal Corporation feel insulated from the problems in Spanish Town, knowing that even if they fail to deliver on promises or neglect critical issues, they are unlikely to face electoral repercussions? What exactly happens at meetings of the corporation? Do they not also drive through the town and see the filth?
Just this March, as newly elected councillors were being installed into office following the February 26 local government election, chairman of the corporation and Mayor of Spanish Town Councillor Norman Scott urged the councillors to focus on working for the good of the parish.
“All of us have been sent here by the voters with a clear mandate and an expectation of superb service, which must be the hallmark of the term,” he noted.
We remind Mayor Scott that the corporation has responsibilities for municipal parks, beautification, cemeteries, markets, parking facilities, parochial roads, local sustainable development planning, drains and gullies, street lights, and welfare services.
Immediate action must be taken to address the root causes of the neglect in Spanish Town. Only then can the Old Capital begin to reclaim its dignity and vitality.
In the meantime, we call upon those living in communities in and around Spanish Town to demand better from those who represent them. Demand better leadership, that is, leaders committed to ensuring a clean, safe, and vibrant environment for all.