Government must escape cycle of failing to plan

Ann Hodges, Guest Columnist

The Jamaican Institute of Architects (JIA) represents a profession intimately involved in the physical development of the country and so is very interested to see that physical planning and its role in development planning was a central discussion in the recent Budget Debate.

Matters to do with planning were raised by Andrew Holness in his proposal for a new planned town in Clarendon, and in the prime minister's response to Mr Holness in which she pointed to previous PNP administrations' track record of adherence to the National Physical Plan of 1978 to 1998 and in which she announced several initiatives.

These initiatives include to revise the National Physical Plan, to promulgate already completed development plans for Portland and other parishes in this year, and "at the appropriate time" to consider the draft Town and Country Planning Bill, among other things.

These announcements of Prime Minister Simpson Miller, as well as her assurance to the nation that the Government is "committed to ensuring that Jamaica's continued development is guided by a comprehensive and integrated National Spatial Plan", are welcome declarations, to which the JIA shall hold the Government.

While the JIA welcomes the announcements and is fully supportive of the Government's stated intentions. However, we believe that we can be forgiven for being a little sceptical.

Over the last three decades, the track record of successive governments has been poor in relation to physical planning. The emphasis has been on speeding up the approval process without the understanding that the only way approvals can be speedy is for proposals to be considered within the framework of an agreed and integrated physical plan, based on sound data and with the input of all sectors.

DISASTROUS PLANS

Lack of an agreed plan has led to the current disastrous situation where government ministries and agencies act without an underlying framework, leading, for instance, to good agricultural land being given over to development, and the motor vehicle becoming more important than the pedestrian in our cities.

A glaring indicator of the failure of successive governments to take planning seriously can be seen in the shortage of trained physical and regional planners in the planning agency, and the nearly three-year delay in employing consultants to undertake the National Spatial Plan.

In 2011, consultants were invited to bid for the planning work which was to be funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The JIA was represented on the advisory committee. As far as can be ascertained, no consultant has yet been appointed.

Against the background of a weak bipartisan record of ensuring proper planning, the JIA will be 'on the case' to see that these current promises and commitments are forthcoming.

We shall give our prime minister the benefit of the doubt and look forward to government action on the promotion of proper planning, and to sitting at the discussion table to offer our continued assistance in the process of re-establishing a national spatial plan and development of plans at both the local and parish level.

Real action on planning will be an important prerequisite as the Government seeks to formalise the engagement of the private sector as a viable development partner.

The JIA welcomes the passage of a Public Private Partnership Policy in December 2012 and urges the Government to bear in mind that the investment interests and decisions of entrepreneurs are aided, guided and encouraged in no small way by well-designed spatial development plans and in development orders that focus more on identifying and inviting investment opportunities.

Ann Hodges is president of the Jamaican Institute of Architects. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jamaicann@mac.com.