Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith - Gleaner file photo
.png)
00:00
00:00
00:00
Lloyd B. Smith
By Shannick Dawkins
Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith says it is the people who will ultimately suffer from the delay in holding the local government elections because, in some cases, they have to continue to endure poor representation from councillors.
Mr. Smith also pointed to several electoral divisions without representation because their councillors have died, while others have lost their seats due to failure to attend municipal corporation meetings.
He said successive governments have shown flagrant disregard for local government elections, which he believes "boils down to cheap politicking".
According to Mr. Smith, local government elections are often seen merely as a gauge for the political party in power to assess their standing among the people.
He added that the disregard for the election is also evident in the quality, or lack thereof, of some people who are chosen to serve at the local level.
Contending that the local government election has been treated as the "bastard child of our government system", Mr. Smith said the constant postponement of those polls points to the need for fixed election dates.
He urged Prime Minister Andrew Holness to keep his previous election promise by accomplishing this, not only for the local polls but also the general election.
With the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Committee, the commentator suggested the issue of fixed election dates should be among the matters addressed.
He said this move would "preserve Jamaica's democratic way of life" and not allow politicians to "do what they feel when they feel and how they feel".
Mr. Smith was speaking Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
