St. Ann Parish Council to Host Public Fora on Local Gov’t Reform

In an effort to sensitize residents of St. Ann and heighten their awareness about the local government reform process, the St. Ann Parish Council will stage a series of town hall meetings across the parish beginning this month.
The first of the meetings is scheduled for the St. Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in Brown’s Town on January 27, and they are expected to incorporate the input of councillors and department heads of the Council, as well as representatives of the public institutions and utility providers, who will address concerns and queries which residents may have.
In an interview with JIS News, Secretary/Manager at the St. Ann Parish Council, Clinton Gordon, noted that the “new face of governance” in local government will be characterized by transparency, equity, and participation, incorporating all stakeholders.
He said that while Council meetings are open to the public, the existing seating provisions in the gallery do not provide adequate space to accommodate as many persons as they would like to attend. Hence, the Council has decided to take the meetings to the people, in order to facilitate greater participation in the discussions by the citizenry.
“We are hoping that we have a very good function, because unless our public becomes a part of the process, [it will] fall down. We have been saying for quite a while that not enough persons in Jamaica are taking part in the political process, and others would indicate that the system is flawed. But unless persons, who are of good thought, take part in the process, then [it] will always be flawed,” Mr. Gordon said, while encouraging persons to get involved in the system and assist in effecting changes.
He informed that the next town hall meeting is scheduled for February 26 in St. Ann’s Bay, at a location to be decided on, and urged residents to support the initiative by attending these fora whenever they are held.