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Minister’s Message Local Government Month 2009

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Good Local Governance Is In Our Hands
My fellow Jamaicans, once again the local government fraternity seeks to bring to the attention of our nation the relevance of local government and good local governance in the dailey lives of our people through a series of celebratory activities to mark the month of November as Local Government Month.
 It behoves us as a people to recognize that this second-tier of government is not competing with central government but seeks to complement the policies and identify the needs at the local level and bring your issues to the fore for the necessary attention.
The past year has been a challenging one, but nevertheless we have been moving steadily towards meeting our goals and objectives in a strategic manner that will no doubt impact the way you live and do business within your local jurisdictions through your local authorities. This we will continue to do as we seek to align our priorities with Jamaica’s 2030 Vision to make Jamaica the place to live, work, do business and raise families.
Our major thrust to date has been the review of several pieces of vital legislations that will pave the way for greater legal authority for the local authorities to better fulfill their mandate in improving the quality delivery of service to you, our citizens.
Also in recognition of the need for increased revenues we have put in place revenue enhancement measures that should impact the coffers of the local authorities through the collection of fees. One such measure is the training of municipal police officers to assist in the enforcement of regulations for improved revenues.
On the other hand we have deepened the participatory mechanisms of our communities through the review and establishment of Parish Development Committees across the island and a National Association of Parish Development Committees (NAPDEC). These entities are designed to help push the community agenda and liaise with the local authority in the respective parishes in tabling the needs and decisions of the community at the council level.
We have also completed our final report of the National Advisory Council which highlights the accepted recommendations emanating from extensive islandwide consultations. In addition, we believe that for your councillors to serve you better they too, must know what they are about and how to execute their duties in a formal and structured manner. To this end we have reviewed and updated the Councilors Handbook and will be distributing these as part of the activities to mark the month.
While we have made strides locally in the reform process of local governance, Jamaica has also achieved significant stature on the international scene by way of its achievements in the reform of local government. This is evidenced in the number of illustrious positions, chairs and committees that we have held. Not to mention our efforts at the hosting of our regional partners who coalesced around the broader thinking of regional governance. Our most noteworthy effort has been the production of the Regional Framework and Cooperation Policy on local governance which emanated from a series of seminars and conferences held across the region and funded by our international partners. We are now on the threshold of receiving significant grant funding from this regional cooperation.
Let me congratulate each Local Authority for keeping the system going. Notwithstanding the challenges we currently face. Let not this crisis be an adversity, but let it be our opportunity to shine. Local Government Month is one such grand opportunity to highlight your roles and function and to be innovative in educating and serving. The choice is ours to make. Serve your communities well; they are our reason for existing.
Fellow colleagues as we strive to remain relevant to the needs and sensibilities of our communities let us not forget that as our theme depicts – “good governance is in all our hands” – and we are responsible for writing our destiny and paving the way for a legacy of good governance that will serve our children and generations to come as Jamaica continues on the path to transforming our communities through good local governance.
Therefore, as we go forward let us as individuals, as a team, as a community as a people and as a nation as local government practitioners, continue the thrust towards achieving good local governance by embracing principles of  transparency, accountability,  responsiveness, citizens participation and improved service delivery for a sustained democratic local government system in Jamaica for all Jamaicans.
Thank you and God bless you, as you carry out your planned activities towards this common goal of good governance at the local level.
  
Robert Montague, MP
Minister of State
in the Office of the Prime Minister

With Responsibility for Local Government

Local Government Month Launched: Focusing on Service Delivery

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Local Government Month was officially launched on Thursday November 5, 2009 at Jamaica House. The two (2) hour long ceremony was well attended.

The main address was delivered by Minna Israel, president of the Jamaica Bankers Association, who focused on the importance of quality customer service. Ms Israel spoke to the need to improve the way we do business in Jamaica through improved service delivery. She noted that local government reform, in reorganizing the way local authorities function, is seeking to give local authorities the ability to better serve their communities. She pointed to the fact that local government is the level of governance closest to the people and as such its reformation, if managed and implemented effectively, will result in improved service to all citizens.

Ms. Israel also spoke about the importance of individual productivity to good customer service. She said that one could not “….deliver excellent customer service if your personal productivity is sub-standard”. She pointed out that the councillors who make up the local government system will have to lead and manage the change, ensuring that their personal productivity is at the highest level. As Jamaica is consider the leader in local governance in the region Miss Israel, who is also the Managing Director and Country Head for RBTT Bank, ended her speech by challenging local government practitioners to “lift the standards higher and higher, setting bench marks for the rest of the region and the world to follow”.

Minsiter Montague (L) receives a copy of the Final NACReport from Professor Rex Nettleford, chairman of the NAC.

The launch of Local Government Month 2009 was most significant as it included the handing over of the final report of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on Local Government Reform; the launch of the (revised) Councillor’s Handbook as well as the handing over of the Applications Management and Data Automation Software (AMANDA) to the Department of Local Government by Mr. Anthony Chang chairman of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Legislation and Regulations Committee.
Minister of State in Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for local government, the Honourable Robert Montague, received a copy of the final NAC Report from chairman of the NAC, Professor Rex Nettleford and the revised Councillor’s Handbook was handed to him by Councillor Lee Clarke, chairman of Councillor’s Handbook sub-committee.
The launch also included announcements of a number of activities being undertaken to mark the month.
  • A month-long exhibition at the Kingston & St. Andrew Parish Library Observation of World Town Planning Day on November 6th 4:30 p.m.  at Knutsford Court Hotel
  • Mayors’ and Secretary/Managers’ one day retreat, November 18, 2009 at the Jamaica Conference Centre
  • Minister’s Round Table Talk with UWI students November 25, 6:00 p.m. at UWI
  • Talent Shows at the Golden Age Home, Vineyard Town, November 10th and St. Catherine Infirmary, November 17th

Each Local Authority will be undertaking activities as well, including church services, exhibitions, selection of junior mayors, town hall meeting etc.

Minister Montague discusses a section of the newly published (revised) Councillor’s Handbook with Mayor of Kingston Senator Councillor Desmond McKenzie (R).

The launch of Local Government Month was a collaboratively effort between the Department of Local Government and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.

Department of Local Government Launches UNDP Community Safety Project

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The Department of Local Government (DLG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) became official partners for Community Safety with the signing of a partnership agreement on September 10, 2009 at the Department’s Office on Hagley Park Road. The signing took place during the launch of the GOJ-UNDP project, entitled Strengthening Community Safety through Local Government Capacity-Building.

Speaking at the launch the Honourable Robert Montague, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government said that the focus of the project was complimentary to the many other social, technical and administrative processes that the Department have been working diligently to enhance in the process of local government reform.

Minister Montague added that the issue of safe communities ranked high on the agenda of the Government of Jamaica, and by extension the Department of Local Government, as it seeks to decimate the scourge of crime and insecurity across our Island from different angles, including through our Local Authorities and Community Development partners.

In addition to enhancing the governance process and complementing the activities of the Reform programme, the Local Authorities are main partners in community-wide planning strategies for crime prevention. Councillors are in strategic positions to initiate and co-ordinate local action to adequately address the social demand, thus a partnership between local government and other stakeholders can enable prevention and ultimately help to critically minimize violence, crime and insecurity.

The Local Government Minister further committed to the project noting that its success would mark a major milestone in good governance under the reform programme. “In so doing, we wish to equip our own extensive partnership arrangements within the Local Government Fraternity to ensure that the level of awareness of Councillors and Community Leaders is developed, that significant capacity is built around factors that affect community safety issues and that the communities selected for pilot project intervention stand to benefit from a sustainable, interactive and deeply participatory approach as identified in the Project Document”, Minister Montague said.

The project is being implemented under the theme Reasserting Community Governance: The role of Local Government in Community Action for Women’s Safety and Security. The focus on women and girls is as a direct result of the statistics on violence against women and girls in Jamaica. According to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), sexual assault is listed as the second most common cause of injury to Jamaican women; and 70% of all sexual assaults in Jamaica in 2004 were reported against girls.

The overall objective of this project is to strengthen the local government system through the Local Authorities in making communities safer for women and thereby safer for all, through
Assessment of the local context of women’s safety

  1. Assessment and training of local government authorities and community based organizations in selected municipal areas relating to safety audits
  2. Adapting existing safety assessment and audit tools
  3. Conducting safety audits and local safety appraisals ensuring relevant Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are active participants
  4. Ensuring women are active participants in CBO-to-local government engagement on community safety
  5. Developing a strategy for implementation of safety audits and dissemination of results to stakeholders, and
  6. Evaluation of project and exploring means of replication.

The Strengthening Community Safety through Local Government Capacity-Building project is expected to run from mid 2009 to December 2010.

Jamaica Fire Brigade Launches Citizens’ Charter

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The launch of the Jamaica Fire Brigades Citizens’ Charter on September 17, 2009 was hailed as an important part of the Brigades Modernization Programme.

The Honourable Robert Montague, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government, said the introduction of the Citizen’s Charter was a critical step in the Brigades overall programme of improved service. He said that “the central element in Jamaica Fire Brigade’s approach to modernization of its services and improving its operations is the citizens they serve.”

The publication of a Citizen’s Charter signals recognition of how vital improving service delivery is to overall organization improvement. “This improvement in service delivery is also in congruence with the Department of Local Government’s mission as it relates to providing higher standards of service to the citizens of this country” Minister Montague said.
The Local Government Minister pointed out how important it was for the Jamaica Fire Brigade to ensure that the necessary capacity is in place to honour the commitments being made to the citizens. He implored the Brigade to ensure that there is continuous training of staff.

Even as he lauded the Jamaica Fire Brigade saying “I am proud of this bold step that the Jamaica Fire Brigade has taken; it is a move that will serve to improve its relationship with the public”, Minister Montague took the time to remind the public of its responsibilities. He said the citizen’s should play their part in protecting themselves and their properties from fire as it is often a preventable disaster. Minister Montague also admonished persons who make prank phone calls to the Fire Brigade, saying that it was a malicious act that waste taxpayers’ money.

First Local Government Awards

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First Local Government Awards For Local Authorities – local government stalwart, Keith Miller honoured-
Seven Local Authorities and two individuals in Jamaica’s Local Government fraternity were honoured for outstanding performance in respective areas of the local government reform programme during an awards function held in White River St. Mary, on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
The awards were presented by the Honourable Robert Montague, Minister of State with responsibility for local government, for outstanding performances over the period 2007 – 2009.
The awardees were:
  • The Hanover Parish Council, for most Improved Property Tax Compliance;
  • The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), for Enhancing Own Source Revenue;
  • The Portmore Municipal Council, for Innovative Efforts in Utilising the CLGF Best Practice Scheme In Enhancing the Property Tax Compliance Programme;
  • The Trelawny Parish Council, for Prudent Financial Management;
  • Thomas Parish Council, for Special Efforts at Improving the Welfare of the Indoor Poor;
  • The St. Ann Parish Council was award for being the Local Authority that was most outstanding in Engaging Citizens’ Participation in the Affairs of Local Government;
  • The Manchester Parish Council was recognized for best overall performance in Advanced Implementation of Core Local Government Reform Initiatives;

These Local Authorities were selected by a committee from the Department of Local Government based on a pre-determined set of criteria and in house statistics. The two (2) individual awards handed out were named the ‘Minister’s Award’.

 

 Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who was unavoidably absent, was recognized for his Commitment to the Accelerated Implementation of the Local Government Reform Agenda.  Mr Golding is said to have honoured his promise made during the 2007 election campaign to establish an accelerated time table for implementing agreed reform initiatives emanating from the Interim Report of the National Advisory Council (NAC).

The other Minister’s Award went to Mr. Keith Miller, consultant in the Local Government Reform Unit, for Significant Contribution towards the Advancement of Local Government.  This announcement was met with tremendous support from those present. In accepting the award, Mr. Miller a thirty seven year veteran in the local government arena, expressed his surprise and immense appreciation for the recognition.
Hon. Robert Montague (l), Mr. Keith Miller (r)

 Mr. Miller said that he had much hope for the future of local government tin Jamaica and that it has come a long way. “Obviously there are disappointments and still some challenges but we will reach the point where local government attains its full recognition”, he said .

 Mr. Miller who was once town clerk in the KSAC has input in all major policy documents or legislation created for local government during the last nineteen years.  These range from policy documents such as Ministry Papers 8/93 and 9/03and the NAC Report to the re-establishment of the National Advisory Council on Local Government Reform and provision of technical support.  Major legislations include amendments to legislation enabling the creation of the Parochial Revenue Fund as well as the Municipalities Act.

 

 His influence extends to the international stage and his collaborative efforts with multilateral institutions including the Organization of American States (OAS), World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) have brought added value to the efforts of local government development in Jamaica.

The Local Government Awards function was the culminating activity marking the Department’s Local Government Month celebrations for 2009.  Local Government Month is commemorated in November each year.

Local Government fraternity mourns the loss of Professor Rex Nettleford

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– A strong voice of local democracy.

On behalf of the local government fraternity, it is with deep regret that we mourn the passing of one of Jamaica’s erudite minds and committed stalwart of local democracy.

Professor Rex Nettleford is best remembered by us for his unwavering commitment towards the deepening of democracy at the local level in the quest for good governance through the citizens’ participation model.

Such was his commitment to the cause for the betterment of local governance that he gave exemplary leadership to the guidance of the process by spearheading the, National Advisory Council (NAC) on local government reform; a task he performed unselfishly leading to the publication of the NAC Report, often referred to as the local government reform ‘roadmap’.
We celebrate his work and thank him for his legacy of leadership that he brought to the discussions and consultations in enhancing Jamaica’s local government reform process.

To his family, friends, well-wishers and all of Jamaica the local government fraternity through our fourteen (14) Local Authorities pray that the hands of the Almighty will comfort us all in this time of bereavement.

Statement by the Hon. Robert Montague
Minister of State
Office of the Prime Minister

Department of Local Government Welcomes New Director General

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Major Richard Reese was introduced to the staff of the Department of Local Government by outgoing Director General, Devon Rowe this morning, Monday March 15, 2010. Mr. Rowe introduced the Major as man of extensive experience and assured the staff that they would be getting “an excellent director general”.

In his response Major Reese thanked the staff for the reception and commended the HR unit for the expedience with which preparations were made for his arrival in the Department. For his part, Major Reece revealed that his preparation for his new job included a few briefing sessions with Mr. Rowe as well as attendance at two of the Department’s recently held parish visioning symposiums.

Major Reese described himself as an open person with very good communications skills, although he is usually very brief and to the point. He also said he was a team player, he said “we should recognize that each person brings specific skills and attributes to the table and as such we must ensure that there is mutual respect”. This he said was very important when managing an organization irrespective of its size; “one may think that the economic challenges and the asset management challenges, might be most significant but generally 40% of your time is spent on Human Resource challenges and team building..” he said.

The new local government DG outlined his years of experience in both the private and public sector ending his address to the staff by saying he was looking forward to working with everyone to advance the objectives of the Department and the government. He also pledged his support to “advancing the personal development of the staff”.

Projects

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TRADE LICENCE               
Cabinet gave approval for the revision of the schedule of fees payable under the Licences on Trade and Businesses Act by business operators’ function in Jamaica. The Ministries of Local Government and Environment and Finance and Planning are now mandated to effect all the requisite measures for the implementation of the approval given by Cabinet.
At present, the Inland Revenue maintains a manual register that records the businesses in their respective locale. There are a total of 28 different registers with information across the island. These registers are updated from receipts presented by the taxpayers or from a report printed by the cashier on a daily basis. The system is archaic and difficult to manage.
TRADE LICENCE PROGRAMME
Objectives:
  1. Establish a comprehensive computerized database of all businesses operating in all parishes.
  2. Update the registers by removing closed businesses and adding new ones.
  3. Monitor, review and facilitate the collection of fees through the database.
Plan of Action:
  1. FISCAL Services will load the database on the laptops to be used by each Local Authority. Regional training will be conducted by FISCAL Services for the persons recruited by the Local Authorities on the use of the database in Kingston, St. James, St. Mary and Manchester.
  2. Data will be transferred from the registers to the database by the persons trained by FISCAL. Data will be compiled and used to populate a centralized database maintained by FISCAl Services.
  3. Launch a public relations programme to coincide with the issue of the notices advising businesses of their new grades and applicable fees to take effect April 1, 2006.

Council Heads Examine Critical Reform Issues at 1-Day Retreat

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The decision-making heads of the island’s fourteen (14) Local Authorities (Parish Councils, KSAC, and Portmore Municipality) gathered at the Jamaica Conference on Wednesday November 18, 2009 for a one-day retreat designed to focus on revisiting Council’s role in the context of Local Government Reform.
In his opening statement to the Mayors and Secretary/Managers, Minister with responsibility   for Local Government, Robert Montague, challenged Councils to improve their revenue sources, be forward thinking in planning for the parish as well as improve the general efficiency of Councils through relevant training models.
He reminded the gathering that at the heart of the Council’s revenue base is the planning department which is a potential ‘cash cow’. This area he says needs to receive greater attention.
On the issue of accountability, the Minister reminded Councils that financial allocations will be tied to timely submission of reports and performance evaluation reports. Turning to the testy issue of the One Stop Shop, the Minister allayed fears that Councils would be losing their current portfolio, and instead, advised that they would be responsible for approvals for sub-divisions of nine (9) lots and under as well as approve sub-divisions of 3000 square feet and under.
The all-day session which formed part of the Local Government activities for November, also addressed issues of developing Digital Town Halls and Mayors and Councillors taking greater care at improving the image of council.
The way forward was the third segment of the retreat that applied practical efforts at action planning with specific targeting and timelines.
Mayors and Secretary/Managers are mandated to return to their respective councils to discuss, plan and implement their action plans in the context of the local government reform programme.

Other topics discussed included, status of local government reform, reflecting reform in council operations, communications and Councils’ collaboration with the Single Road Authority.

NAC TARGETS LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

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The National Advisory Council (NAC) on the reform of Local Government has stepped up its drive to move the reform agenda forward.
Following instructions from the minister of state with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Robert Montague, the committee convened recently to advance its agenda.
The National Advisory Committee which is now being chaired by Professor Neville Duncan, due to the passing of Professor Rex Nettleford, agreed on working towards achieving some key tasks within a set time frame.
These include the evaluation and implementation of all recommendations made so far, develop a policy framework for the NAC to monitor the implementation of reforms, to review additional documentation relevant to the Local Government Process, the status of the Parish Reform and Local Public Accounts committees and the status of Parish Development Committees.
It was agreed that a sustainable public education programme be made a part of the Local Government Reform Process. It was noted that local people need to know what is involved in the process of Local Government Reform as well as the benefits to be derived from this process once it is completed.
Local Government Reform forms part of the government’s thrust, to achieve social transformation through a new paradigm of local governance which affords localities and communities greater scope for local self management and facilitates the active participation of citizens in the process.

The National Advisory Committee on Local Government Reform is scheduled to meet an additional two more times over the next few months.