Dear Editor
PLEASE permit me space in your dailies to air my views on an issue, captioned ‘Slothfulness of the City Administration resulted in the vendors being unable to occupy the area.’ Firstly, we must thank the Minister of Public Infrastructure The Hon. David Patterson, for his willingness to help the Council and more so, the vendors who are displaced.
However, looking at the news and reading the papers give one the impression that this is an audition for in search of a political star. I feel this way because the utterance of the councillor, who is Chairperson of the Markets and Public Health Committee, was different from what was explained at the statutory meeting by Mayor Chase-Green.

At the meeting, the mayor is on record as stating that the Minister of Public Infrastructure The Hon David Patterson was written to seeking his assistance and intervention in overlaying the new site with asphalt. Additionally, the council was awaiting word from the minister, which came during the meeting of councillors; the minister is willing to help, but at the moment his budgetary allocation for the year has been exhausted. According to the mayor, once the supplementary budget has been approved by Parliament, the help would be forthcoming from the ministry.

This statement of the councillor points to three vital issues. Perhaps, the Councillor/Chairperson of the Markets and Pubic Health Committee was unaware of the transaction between the Office of the Town Clerk and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure before the interview. However, ignorance or lack of information does give (sic) one the right to mislead the general public. It is important that one should concur with those who have the knowledge before running to engage the press. It is important that you have facts together before commenting on any issue. This will cause lack of trust by your own supporters in information you disclose and is a sure recipe for political suicide. In a democratic society, elected officials have the right to express themselves on issues that are of public concern; however, this must be done in a responsible manner.

It is obvious that the political heat is on and engaging in political bashing is a sure way to win the favour of constituents. Some of the older heads in the political arena need to train and nurture some of these younger politicians; it is clear that there is lack of political fortitude, direction, tact and suave. It is clear that the councillor is unaware that political bashing is reserved for your political opponents.

This points to another important issue: that is, the need for a code of conduct to be drafted, signed and implemented by the new council. The new councillors should sign on to a code of conduct. This agreement should set out agreed, prescribed patterns of behaviour for councillors.

A code of conduct can curb political excesses, including deliberately misinforming the public, controlling verbal abuse, including the use of racially inciting statements. More so, it should impose a burden on councillors to be confidential about the council’s business.
A code of conduct should by and large stipulate how city officials should behave towards each other. A code of conduct for city councillors would foster a better relationship amongst councillors and between the elected official and the officers; furthermore, generally, behaviour patterns would be monitored.

Regards
Mortimer Thomside