Punishment Without Providing Bathroom Facilities Cannot Solve Indiscipline

By Michael Spence

I refer to a case of urinating in public at the Spanish Town Court recently.

Michael Spence

A case of a lack of civic pride, and I wish to add a critical point — there are simply not enough places for urination or defecation in public spaces in Jamaica. This is a deficiency all over the country.

We tell citizens not to urinate in public, and rightly so. 

Under Section 46 of the National Solid Waste Management Act, it attracts a $2,000 fixed penalty and up to $50,000 in Parish Court. But where are the facilities? 

The park in the centre of downtown Kingston—St. William Grant Park — has public sanitary conveniences that are closed by 7:00 pm, yet businesses in the area and buses still operate until 9:00 pm and beyond. What do we expect a bus driver, conductor, or market vendor to do after 7 pm? This is bad planning.

I propose three practical solutions

1. No business license without adequate human waste facilities. No establishment should be granted a license to operate—whether a shop, bar, arcade, or transport centre—without adequate, functioning toilet facilities for staff and the public. This must be a condition of the public health and parish council licensing inspection. If a food establishment's bathrooms stop working, that establishment should be closed until fixed. We enforce food handler's permits; we must enforce toilet standards.
2. Extend public facility hours to match commercial hours. If downtown Kingston operates until 9 pm, public toilets must operate until 9 pm. The cost of an attendant and security is less than the cost of cleaning faeces and urine daily.
3. Introduce fixed or portable "Place to Pee" or "Pay to Pee" systems. What saves our towns now, if truth be told, is Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Stanley's, Mother's Restaurants, Juicy Beef Tastee and other popular food places filling the breach. 

We must not rely on private businesses to do the government's job. A simple model I am aware of works in Singapore and parts of London. Clean, well-lit, managed portable or fixed units costing $50 or $100 to use, with an attendant. 

The fee pays for water, tissue and cleaning. Local authorities can franchise these to MSME entrepreneurs. 

These would create jobs and keep the cities/towns clean.

We must stop putting the cart before the horse. Teach civic pride in schools under Social Studies, yes, but also build the facilities that make civic pride possible.

Punishment without provision breeds resentment. 

Provision with education breeds pride.

Michael Spence

Michael Spence is a graduate of Cornwall College and the University of the West Indies. He is a trained teacher, a sociologist, and a writer for Bark Di Trute.

Micspen2@hotmail.com 

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