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Cabinet to Receive Proposed Amendments to Laws on Parish Council Operations

By: Douglas McIntosh, October 3, 2013

The Key Point:

Development of proposed strategic laws for reformed local governance has been completed.
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Cabinet to Receive Proposed Amendments to Laws on Parish Council Operations
Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott (right), emphasizes a point in discussion with Social Development Commission (SDC) Executive Director, Dr. Dwayne Vernon, during the SDC’s first community development committee conference, at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Mandeville, Manchester, on October 2. Mr. Arscott was the guest speaker. The conference, held under the theme: ‘The Governance Framework: The Pathway to Local Economic Development’, is one of 12 scheduled islandwide between October and November. The National Association of Parish Development Committees (NAPDEC), and National Integrity Action (NIA) are partnering with the SDC on the initiative.

The Facts

  • The reform process being pursued will see the creation of the Local Governance Act.
  • The laws will equip the local authorities with greater autonomy.

The Full Story

Cabinet is expected to receive a draft of proposed amendments to legislations governing parish council operations from Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, shortly.

The Minister, who made the disclosure at a Social Development Commission (SDC) community conference in Mandeville, Manchester, on October 2, said development of the “long awaited” proposed strategic laws for reformed local governance process has been completed.

He informed that the reform process being pursued entails proposed amalgamation of the Kingston and St. Andrew, Parish Council, and Municipalities Acts into one legislation – the Local Governance Act.

Enactment of the Local Government Financing and Financial Management, and Local Government Unified Services and Employment Acts, are also being put forward.

These, the Minister explained, are intended to equip the local authorities with greater autonomy and responsibility to administer their affairs. They are also intended to formalize the involvement of organizations, such as parish and community development committees in the local governance process.

Last Updated: October 4, 2013