Jamaican Researcher

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Absenteeism of St. Thomas Parish Council in SEJ Project

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If the community residents and leaders cannot access their Parish Council, which was created to lead parish and local development, then how can we guarantee the realization of our fundamental rights and freedoms as citizens?  The lack of realization of one right inhibits the ability to realize others, as such residents who are affected by bad roads, crime, poor transportation, limited food, and inadequate shelter are unable to live in full human dignity. If we are to realize the MDGs, Parish Councils and citizens must work together and respect each other!

In October 2008, internal and external leaders of Albion in St. Thomas (Jamaica) were mobilized to my Advocacy Planning Workshop (APW) to discuss critical issues to be addressed by community-based organizations (CBOs) as they prepared themselves for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Key among the items were the need to: Acquire land for the development of a community center and multipurpose sporting complex; Improve police patrols in order to curtail the rise in petty crimes (break-ins and theft); Resurface roads; Bush empty lots; Control the development of informal settlements in adjoining areas; Control land erosion and flooding from Cow Bay; and Fence the pump house that supplies water to the community.

Mr. Ishmael Robertson, who represented the Member of Parliament, Hon. James Robertson, his son, articulated that the Secretary Manager of the St. Thomas Parish Council had portfolio responsibility for addressing the majority of the issues raised. He lamented the absence of that office and advised leaders to write a letter to them expressing extreme disappointment and the need for a meeting to address the issues raised.

From my experience on the Social and Economic Justice (SEJ) Project, I have not seen the Secretary Manger or any other representative of that office make an effective attempt to participate in or address issues of community development. I have worked in four unique communities: Albion Mountain, Albion, Morant Bay, and Springfield, and not once have they responded to our invitation to meet the leaders of the community and work with them in changing experiences of injustice.