COMMENTARY: The predicament of the Portsmouth Town Council

A street in Portsmouth
A street in Portsmouth

News surfaced recently that the Mayor of Portsmouth, Mr. Cleve St Jean, is worried that the Portsmouth Town Council is at risk of slipping into irrelevance through failure of residents of the town to pay house and land rates.

This should be of no surprise to the Mayor as the situation has persisted over a prolonged period of time and the current Central Government has no real interest in remedying the situation. Instead, the Council is now used as a footstool by The Labour Party in pursuit of its machinations in the community.

In October 2011 then acting Prime Minister Reginald Austrie at the inauguration of the Portsmouth Town Council, voiced what now seems an administration position that: “The Portsmouth (Council) should be quite capable of meeting all its budgetary requirements through the collection of its House and land rates”.

This comment came against the backdrop of continued requests, written and otherwise, on the part of the Town Council for a Tipper Truck which was promised to the council years before by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the Labour Party Government.

The Minister of Community Development Hon. Gloria Shillingford then echoed Mr. Austrie’s comments on the “resource rich” Portsmouth Town Council, seemingly forgetting that two years earlier the  PTC Land and House Tax resolution along with a new budget, House and Land Rates and request for review of the Government subvention which still stands at EC$ 18,000.00per month  was not approved by her ministry for the stated reason that;   “it is not prudent to raise taxes prior to an election”. Current levels of funding and revenue barely caters for the limited staffing and operations. Councilors are forced to forego their monthly honoraria and the council is mired in debt. Thus the quality of services rendered by the Council and received by residents is poor and inadequate. Even given the statutory responsibility to pay taxes, it is not surprising that residents are reluctant to pay up given this state of affairs.

Incidentally, the Portsmouth Town Council had just been through months of debate and deliberation on an increase in the tax rates in the town, which now sits at .0075 cents on the dollar value of any house in the town and .0060 cents on the dollar for vacant lands. We eventually agreed that there would have been no increase in rates due to the expansion of the tax base brought about by a careful reassessment of all properties within the municipality.

My own view on the matter is that along with the broadening of the tax base the rates and calculation of the same should be reviewed  and  changes made to accommodate the diverse commercial and residential development  in the municipality.

The Roseau City Council and Canefield Urban Council rates are set at 1.25 cents per dollar value of the properties within their municipalities. The subvention for the Portsmouth Town council has not been reviewed since 1990’s or maybe even prior to that. In the meantime the size of the community has more than tripled.

The facts are that the Ministry of Community Development did not take the time out to review the proposal by the Portsmouth Town Council nor did it feel the need to dialogue with the council before deciding carte blanche that the proposals were un-approvable.

It may be safe to conclude that the current administration has already given up on the Local Government System and the Portsmouth town council as, on assuming office, they created what is called the Ministry of Constituency Empowerment. This new Ministry, seemingly an institutionalization of the Red Clinic has surreptitiously usurped functions of the Ministry of Community Development;  funneling  funds for community projects “through the council” directly to party supporters, without any tendering  process . Today it is not uncommon for contracts for community projects to be determined in the bars and rum shops around the community. To add insult to injury the council is now subject to direct instruction from political appointees, in some instances directing the council to pay funds to contractors who were not properly contracted by the council.

The Ministry of Community Development and the Welfare Department are no longer responsible for the allocation of Housing to the needy under the vaunted Housing Revolution Program; This role now rests with Constituency Empowerment offices.   Now stories are circulating of small business grants being made through these offices without any diligence or process. Seemingly the underlying objective being deposits on potential votes. Resources which the Council normally managed to the benefit of the municipality have been systematically eroded and diverted to the Red Clinic Ministry.

These are but some of the issues affecting the proper governance of the town of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Town Council.  The people, accustomed to little or nothing, feel beholden to the party in power which they have supported for the past 60 odd years, and which now holds the power of the handout over them.  The council, drawn of course from the citizenry of the municipality, is afflicted by the same malady.

In the strongest of Labour Party strongholds, councilors themselves aligned with the Labour Party Government, are reluctant to enforce the collection of rates through measures provided within the law. There can be only two explanations for this: One being that “they fear that such action may anger residents of the town, triggering a backlash at the polls for their beloved party.”  I am certain that any sane individual, given the voting history of the town would find that quite improbable, but not so the Minister of Community Development, or the Councilors of the Portsmouth Town Council. The other explanation would be that they lack the political will power, or as some would say, the “cajones” to get the job done.

Make no mistake, I do agree that the town of Portsmouth should have no problems meeting it’s revenue targets, but that would have to take a departure from the status quo. It would demand a council not concerned with political parties and affiliations; one strictly focused on good governance of the town without fear or favor. It would take forward thinking persons who are willing to innovate; to think outside the current Rubik’s cube of a box that the council continues to operate within. It would take recognition from Central Government that, the town of Portsmouth is too important to the economy of the country to be treated lightly or to be taken for granted; that resources befitting the development of the potential engine of growth of our economy, should be commensurately allocated to the town. It is in fact inexcusable for the Minister of Tourism parliamentary representative for Portsmouth to allow the most touristic community on the island to slide into such a state of dilapidation, especially given how important Yacht tourism is to the town of Portsmouth.

I often surmise that the town of Portsmouth suffers from a condition similar to that of “Battered Spouse Syndrome”.  Defined as:  “a psychological problem in individuals who are repeatedly abused by their spouses, The person becomes depressed and unable to take any independent action that would allow him or her to escape the abuse” it is also referred to as “ Learned Helplessness” Similarly, Portsmouth seems to have settled for less clinging to the hope, that one day the battering will stop and things will get better.

We are not a timid people, some of the brightest minds and capable leaders have originated from our town and we should never cower in fear of the future, for we have the strength resources and potential to be the best there is.

Unless the People of Portsmouth can realize this pride and come to a realization of this political and economic importance of their constituency, unless we demand that we be treated per that status, then we will continue to flounder.

Infrastructural tokens and white elephants handed down by governments and politicians seeking to manipulate the minds of the populace with the visual, rather than real systemic and policy changes that will positively affect the lives of the unemployed and poor among us through the stimulation of economic and social development should never be enough!

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35 Comments

  1. Cor
    May 28, 2013

    I like the ‘battered spouse’ comparison!

  2. poe-ki-toe
    May 26, 2013

    Ashton i know your back is large enough to bare the backlash that this article has thus far created. Know that youthful, young minds are in support of you.

  3. Mi Dayba
    May 24, 2013

    By the way Mr. Ashton Riviere, seeing that you are so concerned about the revenue stream of the Portsmouth Town Council, I am disappointed that you did not let us the readers know how much you and Washway community watch pay to the Portsmouth Town Council for the conversion and use of the public convenience where you operate your radio station. $1000.00 would be a fair deal based on the market price of nearby properties.

  4. Alas Gwantas
    May 24, 2013

    People nothing will change in Portsmouth until the mentality of the people changes. That dependency syndrome has simply swallowed up Possie. Rosie die Possie die.
    Secondly Possie lacks leadership… Incompetent Mayor, Incompetent parl rep, Incompetent Government Advisor, Incompetent Small Business entrepreneur.
    3. Forget Ashton the messenger and focus on the message. Possie has all the resources to make it one of the best Caribbean towns. Natural resources in abundance why cant Portsmouth maximize its potential.
    People if the Council, starting with the Clerk and Staff members, cannot perform tiway yo and look for competent people.
    Where are all the ties Rosie developed with the French islands, nobody cared to follow up? Funding can be accessed through funding agencies, WRITE PROCJECTS !!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously the tax base is ridiculously too low so something has to be done. You cannot expect to run an expanding town on these minimal taxes.
    Hi Cecil mais e ka perform!!!!!!!
    The Labour party stooges is killing the town. Jen Gwantas accept the truth. Some labourites getting rich at your expense. Open your eyes. After 50 years Labour party should be giving the people of Portsmoth maximum respect… But no Portsmouth people waiting for anther Douglas to light the lamp. Hello Cabral Douglas for Rosie is home, he will save the council. Only a DOG LAST can save Poossie……… lololoollllllllllllll

    • Mi Dayba
      May 24, 2013

      Alas Gwantas, my answer to you is “Alas”. How can we forget Ashton or ignore the messenger? Have you ever heard the creole saying “Canawi ka di shodyeh bondai nweh”? If a man with strong body odour is trying to sell you perfume or roll on, would you ignore him especially if he is swearing by his product? Pragmatic seems to have his fingers on the button. Anyone who knows Ashton cannot ignore the messenger. The message may sound sweet on DNO but in Portsmouth we are high-tailing out of the area like a skunk is somewhere about.

  5. pragmatic
    May 24, 2013

    Met Veye, I agree with the points put forth, and though I use to admire Ashton as a friend he is now seen as a stirring little punk. Always writing great articles with great solutions but ask him to be positive he backs in a corner. Wasn’t he at the centre of the same Portsmouth Town Council? Did he not spend years in it? Was he not ask him to be the next councillor? And, not only did he undermine the radio station but now runs it with his group like it was his idea. he washes his tongue on everything others try doing and help run them to ground but ask him to come forth, he turns away. No wonder folks say “Portsmouth is a divided community!”

  6. cautious
    May 24, 2013

    finally mr mayour you are doing something by speaking whats on your mind and not joining ur friend the pal rep in the rum shopes to take a shot…guess now u are feeling the preasure and finally speaking out ..congratulations to you :)

  7. 4real
    May 24, 2013

    The Portsmouth Town council has been ineffective for years and to date have not find solutions to the very problem that they are encountering by not being able to collect house and land taxes, and has done nothing to date to address the problem.Recommendation that they go on a reform project, where all outstanding land and house taxes will be wipe out and effective 1st August 2013 every one will be given an invoice to be paid by the 10th. Do a public awareness program to educate the residence informing them of the legal consequences and take the necessary decision to enforce them. It is better to start collecting than never collect at all. In addition the very persons who are council member are the perpetrator of the system. Its just mouth talk and mouth talk. Get with the program,

  8. Anonymous
    May 24, 2013

    Portsmouth Portsmouth Portsmouth sweet little home!

    Does the Council even have a list of the ones who pay the land and house taxes? For it is now more than 20 years that I a resident have been hearing about that and to this end nothing. No one has taken a decision. Every time it seems that those appointed/hand picked by the government “in power” seem to back down some delinquents themselves. So you are asking us to pay the taxes and you are not? Are we the only ones from Portsmouth? Where are you from and where do you live.

    Good that the Councillors do not collect their stipend how much work is being done? And by now after too long the Portsmouth Town Council should have been able to stand freely on its feet.

    We have to learn to distinguish when we play and when we are dealing with serious matters and then there are times when the two may be mixed.

    As for Portsmouth as a tourism package hmmm.

    People are not radical they are afraid to speak. Someone always knows what is best for someone else. Afraid to speak and afraid to take action. You see the problem identify a solution share your idea and make the difference.

    Wait so to summarize there may be no more Portsmouth Town Council?

  9. GWATANCE
    May 23, 2013

    This article has certain points which can be dealt with when the PTC give an allocation of responsibility to Councillors such as environment and Parks, Refuse collection and very importantly the collection of house and land revenue. Many residents know that the house and land taxes are ridulously low and a fact that the massive houses in Picard and elsewhere pay minimal revenue. The residents of the TOWN must show more interest in the business of the Council and the Councillors must seek another venue to hold their meetings as the present is too claustophobic which I am sure discourages proper debates on issues. There is also a matter of making the residents to attend the meetings to give their opinion. Party politics must be shelved for the good and progresion of the TOWN. Finally my recollection the present and immediate previous mayors were put in place by local Labour Party individuals. This is not accepted in a Democratic system. Favoritism and neputism are sicknesses of true and valid DEVELOPMENT

  10. concerned
    May 23, 2013

    my country has a great potentiel: TALKERS and no DOERS. Let’s take back our country/ town and enough talking start acting. that’s where our strenght lies. People tend to forget that no matter which party is in power , we are the one who have them there.

  11. Anonymous
    May 23, 2013

    Teehee. It is not prudent to raise taxes before an election -well that means they will just be raised after.

  12. LCM
    May 23, 2013

    Great article Ashton. I will say again like i have said before Portsmouth is the key to Dominica’s development. It always was, and always will. Note i am not from portsmouth. The same government leaders who run the town are the same ones who run the wasted hampstead estate. See the parallel?

  13. Jimi Hendrix
    May 23, 2013

    This Labour government has done some good things for Dominica. One of my major problems with them is the beggar mentality they are nuturing.

    As far as property taxes are concerned, this penalties for not paying taxes have been established the world over. This is not a new concept. If you do not pay, the town council should have the authority to seize and sell the property to enforce payment. Do that 3 times in a small place like Portsmouth and you will see how quickly others will comply with the law. But then again we all know there are many laws on the books that are habitually ignored without consequence. It is time we grew up to be a more mature society.

    • Anonymous
      May 23, 2013

      I couldn’t agree with you more, Jimmy. Everybody want the best of everything, but no one wants to pay for it. Matters are made worse when, in the Dominican context, the authorities are afraid of taking a stance for the good of the country. It is appalling that in this day and age, with the ever-increasing cost for goods and services, the people of Portsmouth have to pay this paltry sum on their real estate, no matter their market value. The reality is in Portsmouth, our bark has more force than out bite.

  14. Oh yes
    May 23, 2013

    This guy appears to be brilliant in many ways, but it would be good to have him contribute in a more practical way to the community. BUT, like many of us willing minds we get frustrated by those who wield power especially by those in central government.

  15. Met Veye
    May 23, 2013

    Accurate as this article may be, the writer spent a whole term in the council undermining a previous mayor and when asked to take up the position, declined to be even nominated. So big deal. Who cares anyway. The writer does not care nor do the other residents of Portsmouth. Some people just get bored and look to stir up a hornet’s nest just to see who will get bitten.

  16. May 23, 2013

    This article is so accurate!!!!! This is not about political party(S)!!! This about **A PEOPLE** liberating themselves. You have said what a large number of young people who are from the community are saying but do not want to be POLITICALLY ASSASINATED :cry: KUDOS :wink:

  17. Anthony P. Ismael
    May 23, 2013

    IPO gave a great pragmatic response. This is something that should be implemented. From where I sit, taxes are tied to mortgage payments monthly and they are collected by the government.
    I think sometimes we have to examine reasons for failure and possible solutions simultaneously. In so doing, we will arrive at a conclusion that is fitting for both property owners and the Portsmouth Town Council.

    • Lawi Genwal
      May 23, 2013

      Ismael you elected to pay your taxes with your mrtagage. You can choose to pay your taxes separately. Wht happens if you don’t have mortgage and own property; the taxes mst be made. You see Perping stomp Izpzo is just trying to marginalized the truth herein and I am surprise that you fall for that crap. Notice all that was said in the article yet Peeping Tom / IPO made one arsenide statement. The problem that was highlighted here is not just about taxes not being paid it us about follow through and enforcement. Do Ismael it seem like you are not seeking solution rather you jumping on the back of the emotional wagon and partisan stewardship rather than to perform root cause analysis

    • IPO
      May 23, 2013

      Anthony I have been saying this for years….and Ashton should know that too…but he took a political angle and his message got lost.
      If the city council in Possie as well as Rosea and elswhere were to apply these rates to services then we would alleviate all the problem of gabbage collection, street cleaning and so on.

      The people have to show some sort of responsibility in their environmeng.

      Ashton enough with the politics bro….its bringing you nowhere fast.

      • Met Veye
        May 23, 2013

        I cannot agree with you more. If you ask Ashton what he hopes to gain from this article and similar actions he will not be be able to give you a cohesive answer. Cohesive in the sense that his answer will not be able to mesh with his other actions. The man was an elected member of the Portsmouth Town Council and instead of doing the people’s work, he was undermining the mayor and publicly flogging the very council he was on. When the other members nominated him for mayor, he declined.

        Both Ashton and his partner Washway are lost, have no direction and all they can do is see problems with what others are doing and offer great sounding solutions but when given the opportunity to perform, they run away.

        Utter waste of time.

  18. Anonymous
    May 23, 2013

    Ashton again

    • Met Veye
      May 23, 2013

      What is wrong with this man? First he undermine Mayor Daniel, then he undermine a community radio station, now we behind Shem?

  19. May 23, 2013

    In our society, a historical record is an important component of building a community and raising its status. The overall goal seems to win elections not the well bringing of the community. The purpose of the article isn’t to solve a problem; the article is a way to convey the issues. That we all can see.

  20. Mixmaster
    May 23, 2013

    great article.. but lets listen or await the backlash and Political Rhetoric.

  21. IPO
    May 23, 2013

    The tax bill should be tied to the water or electrcity bill and
    It will be collected.

    • IPO
      May 23, 2013

      Oooops I did not notice this was penned by Ashton….a politcal hack…if you become more objective maybe you would have become more credible….lol

      • Anonymous
        May 24, 2013

        So suddenly your opinion of the article changed because you realized who the author was? smh This is why we are so backward. If a good report/idea/suggestion etc comes forth it should not matter who it comes from. If the information is accurate (and I am sure that many will attest to its accuracy) then the author should not matter.

    • Mang rovers
      May 23, 2013

      Peeping Tom keep doing what you do and keep bilking the poor people through your corrupt friends and affiliates. I know who you are and what you do.

    • Anthony P. Ismael
      May 23, 2013

      Nice idea.

    • Lawi Genwal
      May 23, 2013

      Foolish – no wonder you are hitched to a bunch of useless , corrupt politicians. You are agreeing that there is a problem but just because Ashton is pointing out the problem destroy the messenger. You are a sick dude . No wonder you receive thumbs down everyday

  22. Young
    May 23, 2013

    Wow! This was well written and I suspect hit the nail on the head.

  23. Anonymous
    May 23, 2013

    Why would the people support and pay house tax when the government keep shoving incompetent mayours down their throats?

    • Cor
      May 28, 2013

      I thought people voted for the mayor? Is the mayor an appointee?

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