One year later, most Jamaicans see no change after local government elections

A year after the 2024 local government elections were held, the latest RJRGLEANER Communications Group-commissioned Don Anderson poll has found that 61 per cent of Jamaicans believe there has been no visible change in the operations of the island's municipal corporations.

Just over a third of individuals surveyed said they have seen some changes and 17 per cent had no view.

In his analysis, pollster Don Anderson said: “A large majority of voters interviewed claim that they have not seen any change/improvement in the way in which the municipal corporations [operate], since the hotly contested local government elections of February last year. This view was echoed by 61 per cent of all persons interviewed.

"It is clear that, based on the intensity of the campaign and the election itself, that voters expected that this would have been an impetus for more positive and decisive action on the part of the councils in representing their local interests. Instead, it appears that most voters feel it has been the same old-same old pattern of management as was the case before the election,” Anderson said.

The pattern was similar across demographic, gender and age groups.

Such a widespread view should be a wake-up call ahead of national elections, constitutionally due by September this year, Anderson said.

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and opposition Peoples National Party (PNP) came out of the February 26, 2024 local government elections with seven mayors apiece, each operating as chairman of their municipal corporation.

Among those disagreeing with the views expressed in the poll results was Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby.

Swaby argued, for example, that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) he chairs has been tightening things administratively.

“We are on a public education campaign now with financial institutions to collect outstanding revenues owed to the KSAMC by them for advertising and signage across the city,” Swaby, the PNP councillor who succeeded the JLP’s Delroy Williams as mayor, told The Gleaner.

Signs promote financial institutions for which a fee must be paid and include those at ATM machines and billboards. During the tenure of Williams' predecessor as mayor, Desmond McKenzie, signs would be removed when placed across the city without permission or fees paid, and where there were no contact details for the persons or entities responsible for them. Swaby said the municipality is owed millions from that activity.

“We too are prepared to take down signs, but we're not just going to take them down without further public education. The sign companies owe us millions, and we called them in and we spoke to them. They have made significant headways in clearing their balances. We're going to make a payment plan for others. Now we're also stepping into places that don't go through the sign companies,” he said.

In relation to financial institutions, the KSAMC is prepared to go to international headquarters of banks, if possible, if any banks fall in that group.

KSAMC staff are unsure who to write to locally.

Other businesses targeted include those trading as licences must be displayed.

“What we did, last year, we went with the trade licence, the tax office and public health personnel, because we're tackling more than one problem at the same time. So we look at trade licence to see if businesses are compliant. Where they are not we have an arrangement, because they are disposing of commercial garbage and it has to be cleared. Also, we have to make sure that the conditions under which our people are working [include] proper sanitary conveniences,” Swaby said, making his case that the operations there have changed. Black River Mayor Richard Solomon said the municipality has been reaping success from several programmes aimed at greater efficiency. However, there are resource challenges.

"Efficiency is a priority for me as a mayor, and something I outlined at my swearing-in. Much of these are efforts needed to change culture and mindset. We try to set structured timings so we can accomplish objectives during a certain time frame. However sometimes we face resource challenges… ,” Solomon, who won the New Market Division on the JLP's ticket, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Solomon said the municipality needs at least six more enforcement officials to maintain order in the town centre with respect to parking, signage, building without permits, and vending. However, he said, good things are happening.

“We have done a lot of drainage improvements, especially in the capital of Black River. We used to have a tremendous flooding problem but, since my inception, we have cleaned and upgraded drainage. We are also trying to upgrade all the market facilities in the parish. The Junction market has been upgraded, also Black River, and Lewisville market is still in progress. Santa Cruz is ongoing as we speak...” he told The Gleaner. Road maintenance as well as securing and rehabilitating a pound for stray animals and other activities have been done. The municipality has also constructed housing for the indigent which will be handed over during this week.

Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, also of the JLP, said there is often confusion between the roles of municipalities and central government, however innovative projects and programmes have been implemented in St James to effect change.

“The St James Municipal Corporation developed the digitisation programme in collaboration with MasterCard for MSMEs (micro small and medium size enterprises) through the MSME unit, which has replaced the anti-vending programme. Over 40 of our craft traders are now collecting digital payments since we launched in September of last year…” Vernon said via WhatsApp messages.

Other initiatives include responses to tourism complaints and the launch of a business improvement district concept.

According to Vernon, leading up to the LGE, polls showed that more engagement was needed with stakeholders. Now persons with disabilities, the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, members of civil society, the Franciscan Sisters from the Roman Catholic Church are now part of committees to participate in discussions and decisions. Monthly community meetings are part of the engagement process. Several partnerships to leverage multilateral support for development have been initiated and began with youth-led climate action projects. One such partnership with the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund has been completed and, through the MoBay STEP-UP programme, a major illegal dumpsite has been converted “to a beautiful garden”.

Cemeteries and markets have also been given special attention as well as the Catherine Hall Sports Complex and Jarrett Park.

Vernon however acknowledged financial limitations which impact maintenance.

Port Maria Mayor Fitzroy Wilson, who represents the Boscobel Division for the PNP, said actions he has initiated since last year's election have made him enemies.

“We've made changes to our council meeting days and the persons who would comprise the committees. We have put different reporting agencies to the committees so we can have fulsome conversation, other than just grandstanding on council day where everybody dressed in jacket and tie, and the meeting dissolve into sensationalism,” said Wilson, who last year succeeded the JLP's Richard Creary as mayor.

He has begun carrying out unannounced visits to building sites to validate documentation which, according to him, will stave off potential bottleneck with documentation at the back end.

Illegally placed signs are also being removed in St Mary, and fines charged.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com