With regard to the sorry state of National Heroes Park, we have recently highlighted in these columns the ineptitude of this government in doing the little things, or doing them right.

The Government was eventually shamed into allocating $25 million for a clean-up of the park, although precisely how, or where and on what the money will be spent has not been said. But if things work according to the pork-barrel past, after the many layers of contracts and the greasy gourmanding by the 'faithful,' there will be enough left for some meagre trimming of verges and whitewashing of sidewalks.

The administration seems to have this capacity for failure at the small, but important, things as was evidenced again last Wednesday when Kingston was hit by intense tropical rain showers. Within half an hour the city was flooded and traffic snarled. In some areas water rose well above street level into offices and warehouses, damaging goods and equipment.

This problem was particularly obvious on Spanish Town Road and Marcus Garvey Drive, but not limited to those thoroughfares. Indeed, Mandela Highway, which a flood rendered impassable a year ago, was similarly, if not as badly affected, despite the claim that there was remedial work.

We accept that there will be dislocations during exceptional weather conditions, but this was not the circumstance last week. In fact, what happened during the rain is fast becoming the norm after little more than a drizzle. The authorities will want to blame the problem on old designs and inadequate drainage in a fast-growing city with a large number of motor vehicles. That, however, is part of the answer - the smaller part.

The problem is the failure of the Government, national and local, to do its job. The city flooded primarily because drains and gullies and other drainage systems were blocked. And they are blocked because they are not cleaned. Some, too, have not been repaired since they were undermined by hurricanes two years ago.

The philosophy of this administration, it seems, is that preventative maintenance is bad and that projects are only worthwhile when huge amounts of money are being spent. Then, the throngs can ride the gravy train.

Moreover, says this philosophy, dirty is better than clean. Unkempt is better than pristine. Disorder is better than order.

It is an attitude to management and politics that translates into our gritty inner-city communities, where garbage remains uncollected, streets remain upswept, verges are not trimmed and the core of leadership is about hand-out and 'let-off.'

Should the administration be able to stir itself into concerted effort it might find the process rewarding and beneficial. For decent conditions in communities help people to feel better about themselves and when people feel good about themselves they are likely to feel good about their communities and are less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour.