As the celebration of Local Government and Community Development Month 2012 continues, Minister Arscott took the opportunity to highlight the significance of the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor with the first official Investiture Ceremony held on Friday, November 9, 2012. The ceremony took place at King’s House and was attended by the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen who brought greetings.

In his address Minister Arscott told the Mayors and Deputy Mayors that they were responsible for the image of the Local Authority and they should ensure that it ‘always maintains its relevance and splendour as the seat of Government for the parish’. He added that one way of doing this is to focus on quality service delivery which should be high on their agendas especially as the government strive to reform local government.

The Minister further charged the Council leaders to always be mindful of the fact that the revitalization of local government is dependent on their leadership. “Without your astute and deliberate leadership…it will become increasingly difficult to implement these far-reaching policies and plans”, he said.

The investiture ceremony was hailed as one of the main features of this year’s observation of Local Government and Community Development Month as it provided the opportunity for Mayors and Deputy Mayors to receive one of the highest forms of acknowledgement of their roles in the Local Government structure.

The Celebration of Local Government & Community Development Month 2012 continues with the island’s fourteen (14) youth mayors paying a courtesy call on the Prime Minister on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. The courtesy call will be followed by a luncheon with the Minister of Local Government and the Hon Lisa Hanna Minister of Youth and Culture at the Ministry’s offices at 85 Hagley Park Road, Kingston 10 and a visit to the Bank of Jamaica’s Museum.