The local election process

In two more months local government will get a fresh start. Elections will be held on June 26 with preliminary results known that night. In all likelihood, the preliminary results will stand as the count is authenticated by a recount the next day.

Those choosing to serve have about three weeks to campaign once they complete the nomination process on the morning of June 3 at an administrator’s office. Some nominees will assume that their stature in their communities is sufficient to get the necessary votes. Those most likely to be voted onto their town committees will be the ones who visit their constituents and ask for their votes.

Those planning to nominate should canvass their communities to ensure that young adults who have recently turned 18 become registered. Residents who have moved into their communities should be encouraged to correct their address on the voters’ register which closes on May 26 so they will be listed in the correct constituency.

Some communities may nominate the exact number of persons needed. If that happens, there is no need for an election and gives those nominees an automatic seat on their respective town committees.

Many do not realize the potential of Local Government

Many persons on Abaco have become discouraged about local government. Some see its duties as only the cleaning of road verges and the picking-up of garbage. And it seems that some committees and councils have done only that. Some feel that the decisions the committees and councils make are only trivial ones, that the important decisions are all still made in Nassau. This may be true, but local government can be much more influential than that. These groups know their communities well, know the wishes of the people and are in a position to speak up on behalf of their communities. They can be the catalyst for getting a strong message to Nassau.

We also feel that the committees and councils can take on much more responsibility than they have in the past. They have basically done just the minimum required by The Act. But they have not explored going beyond the obvious. The Local Government Act and the Town Planning Regulations give them wide guidelines that allow them to dramatically affect their towns for the better.

More can be done without the need for more money

Complaints are heard that limited funding restrains their ability to produce effectively. This may be true for some items. However, much of the influence they can have on their town’s growth and expansion does not require funds. Alternately, they can work with the private sector to accomplish some goals.

One very important duty of the councils is to appoint the statutory boards: town planning, licensing, port, road traffic and hotel licensing. Some boards appear to be composed of members whose political affiliation mean more than the ability or desire to serve. Some boards have not met for months as members have not made the effort [[commitment]] to attend the monthly meetings. They enjoy the status of being a board member, but they do not take their responsibilities seriously. This causes building plans stack up and prospective business owners to become frustrated by not being able to obtain licenses and move forward.

Local Government needs to look to the future

The actions and decisions of our town committees, councils and the statutory boards have generally been a reaction to counter a specific problem. Rarely are their decisions made in an attempt to lay groundwork for the future. Years ago the Marsh Harbour Town Committee attempted to create zoning by delineating a map with residential, commercial and industrial areas. It was sent to Nassau, but nothing came of the effort. Probably the technicalities within the bureaucratic process were not understood or followed, and it was a futile exercise.

There are many instances where committees and councils are allowed to establish rules and regulations for their towns. Regulations to control traffic are often mentioned as within local government’s power to legally change or impose. Although the process is allowed, the protocols are vague and not explained. Like Marsh Harbour’s futile zoning attempt, nothing happens. We understand that Harbour Island established traffic rules several years ago specific to their island conditions.

Aggressive local government leaders with vision and drive can make meaningful changes to our towns and improve the conditions affecting our quality of life.

For example, councils have been assigned the functions of the Town Planing Act. What does that mean?

Referring to the Town Planning Regulations we quote the following:
It is the purpose of these regulations to:
• promote, protect and improve the public health and environment, safety, comfort, good order, appearance, convenience and general welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas;
• protect the character and maintain the stability of residential, agricultural, business and industrial areas;
• provide for efficiency and economy in the process of orderly development;
• provide for the appropriate and best use of land;
• provide for preservation, protection, development and conservation of the natural resources of land, water and air;
• ensure convenience of traffic and circulation of people and goods;
• promote the civic amenities of beauty and visual interest and to provide for a more equitable and expeditious processing of applications;

Later in the regulations, guidelines are given to minimal standards for some items. A statement says lots for multi-family use should generally be bigger than those lots used for single family residences. Is that ever considered on Abaco?

Site plans for proposed construction must show buildings in the immediate vicinity. It is a rare plan that shows buildings on adjoining land.

“All natural tree cover shall be preserved whenever and wherever possible.” Unfortunately, it seems that leaving trees is not possible on Abaco.

“All setbacks within the City Area will be decided on the merits of the application, . . .” Since Family Island applications are definitely not in the city area, does this mean that merits of Family Island applications do not apply? That seems to be the rule we follow.

“Front setbacks required for the Primary Area east of Deveaux Street shall generally require 25 feet.” We infer that this might be a residential area and minimum setbacks of 25 feet are desirable. In this instance it is unclear how we relate to Deveaux Street. Therefore, can we ignore that statement altogether?

There are many more instances where sound judgement is required, but the regulations are not clear on how to do this.

Then we discover in the Local Government Act “Each Council shall carry out . . . traffic schemes, town planning, or building schemes as the Minister . . .may . . .specify.” This brings the question - how can a well intending minister in Nassau know what building or traffic schemes might be helpful in Marsh Harbour or other island settlement? This is a prime example where our councils, town committees and statutory boards should give advice and demand help.

As individuals, we must encourage our locally elected persons to be more active concerning our future. It is rare that anyone gets elected due to their expertise but rather on their perceived commitment to their town and to work toward solving area problems.

At the local level, it all starts again on July first. We all need to work to ensure that we elect people who commit to do a conscientious job. For those who cannot nominate themselves for whatever reason, they must convince those who are able to nominate to do so. Our local government is only as good as we make it.