OPPOSITION spokesperson on local government Natalie Neita Garvey is proposing a nationwide digital overhaul of Jamaica’s municipal corporations arguing that citizens should be able to access local government services online rather than navigating what she described as outdated bureaucracy.

Making her contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Neita Garvey outlined what she called a Smart Municipal Jamaica Initiative, a proposal aimed at modernising the way local authorities interact with citizens, process applications, and deliver services.

The Opposition Member of Parliament, who represents St Catherine North Central, argued that while Jamaicans can transfer funds instantly, communicate across continents, and conduct business from their mobile devices, many municipal services still rely heavily on paper-based systems and lengthy administrative processes.

“Bureaucracy should not feel like archaeology. Citizens should not have to excavate information,” she said.

According to Neita Garvey, the current system often leaves residents moving from office to office seeking updates on permits, licences, and approvals, creating frustration and delays for individuals and businesses alike.

“Modern government must become visible, trackable, transparent, and responsive. This requires nothing less than a national programme of municipal digitisation,” she told Parliament.

Central to the proposal is the creation of a unified digital platform connecting all municipal corporations across Jamaica. Under the plan, citizens would be able to apply online for permits, licences, and municipal approvals, track applications in real time, pay fees electronically, and receive automatic updates on the progress of requests.

She also proposed systems that would allow residents to monitor infrastructure projects, submit service requests, participate in consultations, and access municipal information through a single online portal.

Neita Garvey argued that digitisation should not be limited to individual municipalities but should form part of a national framework with common standards and shared technology.

She proposed a system featuring a single citizen portal, integrated standards, and interoperable technology across local authorities to ensure that residents receive comparable levels of service regardless of where they live.

She said the move would form part of a broader push to modernise local government, which she argued remains overly dependent on central government approval and constrained by outdated administrative practices despite decades of reform efforts.

She also called for greater financial autonomy for municipal corporations, performance-based financing, modernised revenue collection systems, and stronger community participation in local governance.

“The question is not whether Jamaica can digitise local government. The question is whether Jamaica can afford not to,” Neita Garvey said.

— Jerome Williams