Kingston mayor criticises plan to centralise roads and events management

 

Mayor of Kingston and Chairman of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, Andrew Swaby, has pushed back against the government's plan to centralise roads and events management. 

 

In September, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie announced plans to streamline the management of the country's road networks under a new one-road authority. 

 

The minister explained that the initiative will not remove responsibility from local authorities, but will ensure that all agencies work in a coordinated manner to address road-related challenges. 

 

Mayor Swaby is calling for nationwide consultation with municipal authorities before any move is made. 

 

"Any policy that reshapes local governance must be built on transparency, evidence and the principle of decentralisation. We stand ready to work with the government, but we are also standing firm in defending the integrity of local government. Strong communities require strong local authorities," he insisted, adding that the local government system must be empowered to function as the central authority to provide the services in question, and not sidelined.

 

Mr. Swaby says he is not opposed to reform, but believes local government must be fully engaged in the process.

 

"We strongly believe that if this should take place, municipal corporation should be the central authority. Municipal cooperation have been responsible for parochial roads, community infrastructure and the regulation of entertainment events. We have built the system, the capacity and the partnership to carry out these functions responsibly and efficiently. The shift of a single central authority of roads and national permit system for entertainment will remove two of our core functions. If roads and events regulation are taken away, what remain with the local government?" he questioned.