A Power to Deprive -Real Participation in Decision-making Needed

A Power to Deprive
-Real Participation in Decision-making Needed
 
The return of the street vendors to Charlotte Street and the over-ruling of the Mayor and City Corporation by the Local Government Minister and party bosses are once more proof of the archaic nature of what passes for governance in this land.
Some 126 registered vendors are to return to Charlotte Street from May 10.
The vendors were told by Mayor Martinez and City Corporation officials that there were to be temporarily relocated to George Street to facilitate cleaning and improvement works on Charlotte Street as part of a Central Business District Revitalisation Programme decided by the Corporation.
During this temporary relocation, the vendors were then told that they would be permanently located at the old Angostura Bond property. The vendors immediately protested this decree from the Mayor and the Corporation.
They voiced their dissatisfaction with the venue and with the deception of the City officials when it became obvious that they were misled with the notion of a temporary relocation.
This entire episode shows that the City Corporation is not representative of the interest of all the city users and the institution and its elected and appointed officials exercise a Power to Deprive which is in favour of the special interest of the big city merchants and businesses.
This Power to Deprive is the essence of the governance that remains intact in this society on behalf of the Minority and against the interest of the Majority.
The Power to Deprive, in relation to the vendors, is to deny them any participation (along with other users of the city) and any role in decision-making regarding matters of improving the city which directly affect them and their livelihood.
The Corporation’s Revitalisation Plan was decided without any consultation with the vendors. Worse, the relocation was undertaken with the use of subterfuge and dishonesty.
Even when city dwellers and users are engaged in discussion, it is not to give them a real say in the decisions that are made. For example, since 1973, several ‘initiatives’ for the redevelopment of East Port of Spain have been touted but with no improvement in the lives and conditions of the people of that part of the city.
The East Port of Spain Urban Renewal Council (1973), the Small Business Development Company (1988), Industrial Cottages Programme (1989), National Entrepreneurship Development Company (2002), Special Development Zone (2005), the ‘Laventille Initiative’ (2007) and Growth Pole (2013) – all of these are programmes and institutions of successive administrations promising the renewal of East Port of Spain. But, nothing has come out of it.
Whether at national or local government level, the nature of the governance is the same – the people are denied any real say in matters that affect them and the society and decisions are not made for their benefit.
For example, in 2001, Bills were taken to Parliament to amend the Municipal Corporations Act to give a definition of ‘Street Vendor’ in place of the antiquated notions of hucksters and peddlers and to make provision for the licensing and accommodation of street vendors. These Bills were allowed to lapse.
This situation has led to the continuing claim that the vendors are engaged in illegal activity – vending even though they are licensed under archaic rules by the Corporation.
Laws were, however, passed over the next several years postponing Local Government Elections supposedly so that Local Government could be reformed. In 2016, the ruling PNM campaigned in those elections claiming they were a ‘referendum’ on their Local Government Reform plans. Still, nothing is done to modernize the Local Government system. So, the Local Government Minister still has power to direct the Corporation, while the burgesses are powerless and are not even consulted in decision-making.
 This entire situation points to the Necessity for the Democratic Renewal of the political process so that the citizens, the burgesses in local government are empowered and have real participation in decision-making and hold elected officials accountable.
The exclusion of the vendors from a say in matters affecting their livelihood and for improving the city; the dishonest and disrespectful way the Corporation and Mayor dealt with them. These have all been justly met by the protest of the vendors.
Still, the Corporation is persisting by preparing to impose new Rules and Regulations which are to be issued by decree and the vendors are to vendors are expected to submit without question under enforcement by city police.
Without having a real say in decision-making and exercising control over elected officials to ensure that decisions to advance their interests are carried out, the people remain alienated from the exercise of power and are deprive of the possibility of governing themselves.
Whether it is the vendors, the residents and small business people of East Port of Spain or citizens of the entire society, there is need to discuss these issues of governance to formulate their own agenda to bring about Democratic Renewal of the electoral and political processes to empower themselves.
 
Clyde Weatherhead
3 May 2018