Montague Says Success of Any National Initiative Must Begin With the Community

It is becoming increasingly clear that the success of any national initiative, whether for economic growth, the inclusion of positive values and attitudes, or the enforcement of public order, must begin with the community.
This was stated by Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Robert Montague, at a community awards function in Toronto, Canada, recently.
“In Jamaica, under my stewardship as Minister with responsibility for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, we are working assiduously to expand the participatory process at the community level,” he told the gathering of community workers, many with Jamaican roots.
“Through the Local Government reform process,” he continued, “new ways have been devised to involve citizens in the local decision-making process. The Parish Development Committees are examples. The committees have been established in all parishes and are proving to be ideal mechanisms for involving civil society and the private sector at the parish level in the twin processes of governance and development.”
Mr. Montague told the gathering that the committees, as announced in his Sectoral Debate presentation in Parliament on June 24, would be called on to assist local Parish Councils to be more responsive, transparent and accountable.
“They (the committees) will also be the vehicles to address equity, equality and issues of the marginalized in a more substantial manner,” he said.
The State Minister spoke of the achievements expected of the committees, and the contributions they could make to national development.
“My experience as a Member of Parliament shows that when committees like these come alive and take charge of their own development, they achieve more for their respective communities, than any arm of Central Government could possibly achieve, were it left entirely up to such a central body,” he said.