Trelawny Parish Council Honours 16 Past Members

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague, has commended 16 past members of the Trelawny Parish Council, for giving a combined 478 years of dedicated and meritorious service to the parish.
The workers, who served between 15 and 43 years, were presented with plaques at a ceremony, held in the Council’s chambers in Falmouth, on November 30.Retiree, Mrs. Paulette Scarlett, who served for 43 unbroken years, was the toast at the ceremony.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Montague said the awardees had given years of dedicated service, and deserved the awards.
“I think that this represents excellent service and a very good batting record. I would like to congratulate those who conceived the idea and all those who helped to plan and to execute the programme. I am happy that the awardees are here this evening for us all to tell them how good they were and how faithfully they served and that the parish council and the people of Trelawny really appreciate the work that you all did,” he said.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague (left) and His Worship the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collin Gager (right), with some of the persons honoured by the Trelawny Parish Council on November 30.

The State Minister said he was pleased that the parish was closing the activities for Local Government Month with an awards ceremony, as the parish had much to offer the country and the world, with many of its citizens in various spheres of occupation excelling on the world’s stage.
Mr. Montague emphasised the need for leaders to give quality service to the country, and called on councillors of the Trelawny Parish Council to serve with distinction, integrity, honesty and love.
“I urge you as councillors to pattern the awardees who are here today, so that in time, the people of the parish, the people of your division will see it fit and commend you accordingly for your service,” the State Minister said.
Turning to the reform of Local Government, Mr. Montague argued that if the general public was not involved in the process, it would mean very little to the process of governance.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague (left), is greeted by Secretary/Manager of the Trelawny Parish Council, when he arrived for the Council’s awards ceremony, in Falmouth, on November 30.

“The most critical element of the Local Government Reform process is that part regarded as public participation. If we change the laws, if we require open budgeting, if we require the 30 per cent of budget sharing, and the public does not participate in the process, it means nothing. Therefore, we have opened up the council committees, so that members of the public can sit on the public committees. We are inviting members of the public to be a part of the governance system within the parish councils. If the public does not participate, if we do not unveil the shroud of secrecy in the parish council affairs, the reform process would have made no achievement or impact in our country,” the State Minister said.
He emphasised that members of the public ought to be aware of issues, so that they can assist in the monitoring process.