Citizens Urged To Participate In Local Governance

KINGSTON — Local authorities have organised a number of activities to mark Local Government Month in November, which are aimed at enhancing public participation in the process of local governance.

Project Manager for Local Government Reform in the Ministry of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government (HEWLOG) Clive Edwards, said the month of activities, under the theme: 'Your Partner in Community Development' seeks to enhance understanding of how local government works for the benefit of citizens and to encourage community involvement in development initiatives.

He was addressing a Think Tank on Tuesday (November 15) at the Half-Way-Tree Road offices of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).

Local Government kicked off last Sunday (Nov. 6) with a National Church Service at the St. James Cathedral in Spanish Town.

During the month, the various parish councils will be staging town hall meetings, awareness workshops, foras and exhibitions to highlight their work, and quiz and essay competitions. There will also be sittings of youth councils, health fairs, rehabilitation projects, visits to parish infirmaries, and long service award ceremonies.

Activities conclude on December 2 with the national local government awards at a venue to be determined.

Mr. Edwards is encouraging citizens to participate in the various parish activities, noting that they will increase their understanding of how the local authorities operate. “People always say that because of Local Government activities, we know more and learn more about what our councils do and their roles and functions than we did before,” he stated.

Secretary Manager of the St. Catherine Parish Council, Christopher Powell, said that the council is making strong efforts to enhance citizen involvement in local governance. 

He said that since June of this year, the council has been engaging citizens in a series of town meetings.

"We’ve been stressing the areas of compliance in terms of paying rates and taxes and what those taxes are used for, in terms of delivering quality services, and to call on them to engage their councillors in direct dialogue so they can be more aware and informed of what is transpiring at the councils," he stated.

By O. Rodger Hutchinson