Vexed Bermoothes

There’s an interesting little power struggle going on.

Following the runaway horse incident last year, in which many people were injured, the CofH have banned carriages from Harbour Nights.

Now, Junior Minister of Tourism and Transport Senator Wayne Caines has asked the Mayor to back off:

While the Mayor obviously has wide discretion within the city limits, it is the Public Service Vehicles Licensing Board which is responsible for public service vehicles countrywide – and that legislative oversight includes horse drawn carriages.

This has nothing to do with horses. It is another salvo in the PLP’s desire to do away with the independent corporations of Hamilton and St George.

I think the leadership (and transparency and accountability) of these Municipalities is lacking … but I am not convinced it would be any better under the central government. I look forward to the CofH getting off their cell phones and proposing some modernisation steps.

In this case, I am not sure that Senator Caines has it right. At all. The Municipalities Act of 1923 clearly gives the Corporation of Hamilton powers over:

the control, maintenance, repair and lighting of all streets and highways within municipal areas, and the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic thereon

The Corporation’s rights in this regard have been reinforced many times in subsequent legislation, including the Hamilton (Regulation of Carriages) Act of 1994.

Government complains the local media is hostile? As frequently happens, they swallowed this spin without the slightest hesitation!