Dear Editor,
No one can overlook the peculiar position in which the Linden municipality finds itself from time to time in carrying out its mandate. There will always be decisions taken by the municipality that will be pleasing to some and displeasing to others.
Thus it behoves the Mayor and Town Council at all times to work towards the best interest of the entire community, and always endeavour to act with obvious impartiality. As they say, justice must be seen to be done, lest they end up earning the wrath and disrespect of residents, as has been the case on a number of occasions.
The Mayor and Town Council must be mindful of how they are viewed by the citizenry. Quite recently someone drew to my attention a vendor who had taken his time to clean up a reserve belonging to the council along the side of a business place − something that has become very common. This vendor cleaned the gutter and shored it up, built a platform and erected a kind of tent with a removable canvas covering, selling household items which were packed away and removed at the end of the day.
This small business employed 3-4 workers (girls). In my judgment it caused no hazard and was not unsightly, nevertheless the MTC deemed it an infringement and ordered it dismantled.
Now this brings me to the point I raised above: there are countless other such cases no different from this one all around. The MTC must have a clearly defined and principled position; it cannot be selective in its actions by being unreasonably harsh on some while showing obvious favour or weakness for others, especially when the exact same thing that one person is being penalized for stands in bold defiance right before their eyes. This is indeed a recipe for contention and conflict.
No doubt, there are some glaring situations and infringements of the council’s by-laws which no amount of argument can defend, yet the MTC should endeavour to be more amicable in some instances, or as we say in local jargon “flex.”
Even in this Christmas season as the MTC makes attempts to regulate and improve conditions in the community, it can still seek a harmonious approach − becoming firm when necessary.
My suggestion is that maybe, just maybe, the MTC can effect a shift in its modus operandi with regard to permanent and non-permanent structures on its reserves, with specific regulations which must be diligently adhered to once there is no perceived potential danger of any sort.
The vendors could even be obliged to keep these places beautified and healthy – a main condition for granting permission while still collecting tax. Will the MTC now do regular cleaning of their reserve, or would they tell the occupants who live next to it that it is their duty to do so?
Laws were made to serve man not vice versa.
It is said that when you stand up for principle it defends you in the end. I say again that the MTC must be mindful of the way they conduct their business of serving the people; impartiality must be shown, and justice must not only be done, but manifestly appear to be done.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
