Regional consultations on local government reform end
THE series of regional consultations to help chart the course for local government reform ended Tuesday with the last of four regional consultations at the Hibiscus Lodge in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
The series of meetings, which engaged stakeholders such as the parish councils, parish development committees, social development commission staff and other community-based groups, now gives way to another level of consultation that will include focus groups and special-interest groups.
Keith Miller, consultant on Local Government Reform in the Ministry of Local Government and Environment, told the Observer at Tuesday’s meeting that the meetings have been fruitful.
“The meetings have gone very, very well. Attendance has exceeded the number of persons we have officially invited – which we consider a very good thing -and the discussions have been of a very high quality,” Miller said.
However, Miller said, concerns have been expressed about the implementation schedule of suggestions agreed on.
“I think the concerns have been more about how quickly we can get the things implemented, and some concerns about how long the process of local government reform has taken. People are anxious to see some real good movement in this period,” Miller explained.
But, Miller further explained, there was no specific timetable for the overall reform process. What was in place, he said, was a timetable for achieving specific and major goals within the reform process.
The regional consultation process began on January 22 in the eastern region with a meeting in Kingston, followed by the south central region in Mandeville and the western region, in Montego Bay, on consecutive days.
The final forum in Ocho Rios on Tuesday, while not drawing the attendance that the three previous meetings enjoyed, was well attended, despite the lack of participation by the parish council.
Coming out of the regional consultations, it is expected that new timetables will be drawn up to ensure that regulations are put in place to consolidate the policy goals that have been agreed on.
