Local Government Minister to Meet With Executives of ALGA-J

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is to meet with executives of the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGA-J).

This follows the issues that came to the fore during the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Manchester, recently.

“I am expecting to meet with ALGA-J next week to discuss the issues. I think there has to be some cooling-off period and what we are seeing happening is a fight for power, and it is not serving the interest of local government. It might serve personal interest, but not the overall benefit of local government,” the Minister said, at a recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

“I am expecting to make it quite clear, because people might not know that the Local Governance Act gives the Minister of Local Government wide-ranging powers over the affairs, certain elements of local government and if I am pushed to the limit, I will exercise those powers that are vested within the Minister of Local Government,” he added.

The Minister said the behaviour of some councillors has brought local government into disrepute.

“We cannot afford to allow an important institution as local government that offers service to the people of Jamaica to be brought into disrepute over the position of offices which are not being contested in a legal way,” he said.