Divide and rule

Dear Editor,

The current debate about which among Jamaica Public Service, National Works Agency, and Kingston and St Andrew Corporation is responsible for sidewalks reflects the politics of divide and rule in our society perpetuated under the illusion of local government.

Divide and rule is the policy of maintaining control over one's subordinates or opponents by encouraging dissent between them, thereby preventing them from uniting in opposition.

Hence, we elect members of parliament who have to plead to the "relevant authorities" for constituents to benefit from proper roads, utilities or security.

Our elected parish councillors have to plead to the "relevant authorities" to get our garbage collected in a timely manner and to ensure proper streetlights in our communities.

In the end, our citizens are shafted, as the elusive "relevant authorities" sit by as local government and these other entities fight amongst each other.

As the Parliament seeks to entrench local government, we hope that they also empower the councils to attend to these issues and to oversee the development of our parishes.

Dudley C McLean

Mandeville, Manchester

dm15094@gmail.com

Divide and rule

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