Friday, December 14, 2007

Let's Start The Local Governance

Now that the local government elections are over and the parishes have selected their mayors, we hope that the business of good local governance will start.

The new local government administrations, based on the pledges of the central government, will have their hands full, as their roles and responsibilities will undergo significant changes. The Bruce Golding administration has promised that the local government “must be local and governmental.”

Accordingly, his reform as oulined in the party's maifesto, will include:
  1. Giving constitutional status to the local government system
  2. Clearly defining the functions of local government and separating them from control or interference by central government
  3. Providing a statutory guarantee for funding of local government authorities
  4. Providing a fixed term of three years for governance
  5. Improving capabilities in general management, technical services, financial administration, audit and community relations.
  6. Using the National Contracts Commission to regulate the procurement of goods and services
  7. Having mandatory preparation, presentation and approval of budgets
  8. Enforcing of strict procedures for the certification and authorization of expenditure
  9. Monthly presentations of contracts awarded
  10. Auditing by the Auditor General
  11. Subjecting decisions of parish councils to judicial review

So far, this is one area in which the government seems to be serious. Come January 1, 2008 they will be giving all of the property taxes collected, to the local authorities. This money, according to Minister of State Robert Montague is to be used for the payment of street lighting and solid waste collection.

There can’t be much disagreement with this reform policy and much commendation must go to the government for their foresight and vision in this area. By allowing local communities to be governed by local authorities, it frees up central government’s time to focus on issues of national importance. This can only bring about efficiency and cost savings nationally, provided that management oversight including accountability is carefully executed.

Locally it will mean more efficiency as well, and more resources to satisfy the wants of the people, thereby creating an opportunity for economic and social improvements, which will translate into better standard of living and quality of life. For example, the fact that the parish councils will now be paying the electricity bills for their parishes, they will now have to make sure that they are getting value for their money. With more street lights working, more neighbourhoods will be safer at nights. Safer neighbourhoods means more economic activities for local businesses and the cycle goes on.

With the parish councils now directing more of the local activities it will also take less time for projects to be implemented, as there will be less central government bureaucracy. This will give a sense of value to the electorate for their votes and the wider community for their taxes.

These positive changes will also demanded more from local authorities in the way of intelligence, management, leadership and accountability. Local representatives will now have to account for their time and efforts more than before. The days of sitting in the bars with friends when work is to be done or attending council meetings at will, may become activities of the past. The reform will also weed out the less educated politicians who can’t function, while inspiring more intelligence and brainpower to government.

Mayors will no longer be seen as civic and ceremonial figureheads who attend meetings, charity functions and special high society parties either. He/she will have to be more au fait with the developments and activities in their territory. It will mean more visibility, accountability and accessibility. To achieve economic success the mayor will have to be the best sales person for the parish at the national and international levels, in an effort to bring in investments and improve social infrastructure. More investments in a parish means more local taxes and more resources to use locally. He/she will also need to create harmony among the parish’s different constituencies and lead without partisan proclivity.

Since the parishes are microcosms of the wider society any positive result obtained at the micro level should translate into national achievement. It is therefore in the best interest of the administration, to ensure that these promises are kept, as this will only further their cause to govern for more than one term.

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