The Tribune

“An informed citizen is one who participates fully, understanding that democracy is not only the time spent in a polling booth every five years, but rather, democracy is the active participation of that same citizen in the day to day affairs of his country.” Warren J Levarity – 1967

IN 1995, the FNM, with fanfare, backslapping and jubilation passed, “An Act to make provision for Local Government in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.” They claimed they did what the PLP failed to do in 24 years.

I want, in this article, to provide the meaning of local government; its history in the Bahamas; what currently exists; and, what should take place to advance the process. I will do this in a non-partisan way, mindful of my own failure when I served as minister with responsibilities for local government.

WHAT IS LOCAL

GOVERNMENT?

The origin of local government was in the Greek City States during the fifth century before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the public administration of a broad range of services at the community level by locally-elected authorities which are subordinate to the central government, but which are empowered, by law, to act independently when dealing with matters which are strictly of local concern.

Following the philosophy that government is best which is nearest to the people, local government deals with matters of close concern to everyone – the layout of their community; the condition of the streets, parks, playgrounds, signs; the maintenance and renovation of public buildings; shop, liquor and other licenses, local town planning, some environmental matters; and, disaster preparedness and relief.

Local government also has to do with matters such as housing, schools, the care of the aged and handicapped, and some areas of public health services.

In addition, and importantly, local government includes the community’s relationship with law enforcement, stimulating local economic growth and with scores of other matters which touch the lives of residents, their personal interests and well-being.

The character of local government must be such as to enable the process to achieve four important objectives: To perform efficiently a wide range of profoundly vital tasks concerned with the living condition of people in different communities; to attract and hold the interest of citizens; to develop sufficient inherent strength to deal effectively with the central government; and to adapt continuously to the manner in which people worship, live, work, move, shop, and participate in recreation.

In the design and execution of local government, it must be kept constantly in mind that the people have higher expectations and their interest is more diverse, than in years past. They expect greater benefits and demand efficient services.

Ideally, each local authority should have its own distinct legal characteristic which will enable it to sue and be sued and make by-laws.

The role of the minister with responsibility for local government should be one of oversight. In that regard, it is important that the minister does not intrude into the authority of elected local government officials or their staff, but exercises his reserve powers only for serious cause.

The funding for local government comes from grants by the central government and prescribed fees and taxes realised from building permits, liquor, shops, music and dancing licenses and a percentage from road traffic fees and real property taxes.

Local government councils should be permitted to raise revenue. It would be proper and responsible to empower councils, with the prior approval of the minister of finance, to raise revenue through private grants and special fees for their own projects and through other money-making schemes designed for the particular community, sometimes in collaboration with organisations such as churches, lodges and improvement associations.

THE HISTORY

In 1960, by an amendment to the original 1955 Hawksbill Creek Agreement, the UBP government anticipated the establishment of “local government” in the port area of Grand Bahama.

After the 1967 elections, the PLP government disseminated a “white paper on local government”. During the ensuing years, no action was taken due mainly to the fact that local government was not considered a priority. There was also the problem that some MPs, mainly Family Island MPs, felt they would lose control and influence in their constituencies.

Lynden Pindling at the PLP convention in 1989 pledged: “Fellow delegates, your government is satisfied that by 1992 an appropriate form of local government should be in place throughout The Bahamas. We are convinced that a further democratisation of the political system is in the best interests of the Bahamian people because it would give every citizen a greater access to and a greater sharing in the exercise of power.”

“To accomplish this, provincial legislatures with executive and legislative powers may be established for islands or groups of islands; or, district councils, administered by a Mayor, may be established for districts, parts of islands, whole islands or a group of islands.”

“We do not believe, however, that the government should start out by dictating what form of local government everyone in every island should have. Our islands are in various stages of social and economic development so a form of local government that is appropriate for one island may not be appropriate for another island; various forms, rather than a single form of local government may be more suitable, having regard to the peculiar geo-political features of The Bahamas.”

Clearly, both the PLP and the FNM were committed to the introduction of local government after the 1992 election.

The FNM should be commended for keeping that election promise when in 1995 they enacted the local government legislation.

WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS

Even though the Act, which came into force in June 1996, empowered the government to introduce local government in the entire Bahamas, the schedule which listed where elections would take place excluded New Providence, where some two thirds of the population of the country lives.

The Act empowers the minister with responsibility for local government to appoint members to the local council. It does not disqualify all civil servants from elections. It confers the functions of the council to deal with those areas which were carried out by the Local Statutory Boards prior to 1995. It gives the minister responsible for local government far too much power. These are just some of the examples which clearly show that the present Act does not meet the criteria for real local government.

When the Bill was tabled in Parliament in early ’95, a committee chaired by Bernard Nottage produced “a position paper on local government” on behalf of the PLP which outlined a number of significant suggestions, seeking to address the requirements for local government in all the Bahamas.

In part, it stated: “The Progressive Liberal Party’s position on local government is that there should be put in place a comprehensive system of local government which will decentralise power and share it with local authorities elected by all the people of The Bahamas at the same time, and in particular, provide for city governments in New Providence and Grand Bahama. It is inconceivable that the government of The Bahamas would want to exclude some three-quarters of the population of The Bahamas from its proposed plan for local government.”

“It is our proposal to give Bahamian citizens some real influence over their own lives; the opportunity to put their own ideas to work for their local communities; to strengthen community living by preserving existing communities to the maximum extent possible; to guarantee the greatest possible involvement of the people in the creation and functioning of a democratic system of local government that truly empowers them.”

It is clear that if you were to examine “the Local Government Act” and what now exists in the Family Islands, you would come to the conclusion that in many respects, what we have has been a failure and has not been in tune with the norm.

NEW PROVIDENCE

I would like to devote some space to New Providence which should be divided into a number of districts governed by district councils, such as: a restored, enlarged and redefined “City of Nassau”, legally incorporated with a mayor. An exciting entity stretching from Prospect Road (Goodman’s Bay) to Montagu foreshore including Mount Fitzwilliam (Government House) and the Office of the Prime Minister and the environs where people would live, work and recreate. We could look forward to the rebirth of our capital city, a majestic, “City of Nassau”.

The suburban areas of New Providence ought to be divided into districts as needed, appropriately incorporated and governed by district councils. One of the districts would include that area of New Providence with its great prospects for much growth and improvements. Consider the possibility that southwest, New Providence will actually become a second city on the island of New Providence, a vibrant, “City of Carmichael”, with its own mayor.

Certainly, and of paramount importance, local government in New Providence could provide an avenue through which citizens will have a sense of control over matters of real importance in their own lives, where they could take advantage of the opportunity to put their own ideas to work for their communities. This will result in strengthening community life and giving real “power to the people”.

RECOMMENDATION

Forty-eight years ago, Warren Levarity started the conversation on local government. Twenty years ago, parliament passed an Act to make provision for local government in The Bahamas. And for 20 years we have had a “farce” called local government in the Family Islands. Those who have been involved could tell you how woefully inadequate it is and how it fails to serve the people and meet the needs of their communities.

The government can again demonstrate sound and mature leadership in Bahamian affairs by commencing the consultative process necessary to advance to the creation of real local government in The Bahamas. They would earn the respect and admiration of the Bahamian people.

With divine providence and the concentrated efforts of our leaders, we can overcome our challenges and advance to a better and fuller life for all Bahamians.

• George A Smith is a real estate broker and consultant. He was a PLP member of parliament for 29 years, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and a member of the delegation at the London talks on Independence. He was chairman of the secretariat which directed the programme for Independence, and a Cabinet minister for 11 years.