KINGSTON, Jamaica- Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, says councillors and administrators of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) have a vital role to play in the Corporate Area’s development and the delivery of services to residents.

“Your responsibility over the capital city, as well as townships and communities in urban and rural St Andrew, is critical. As councillors and administrators, I am sure that you are seeing and feeling, not only the demands for various services for which you have responsibility but you are also realising on a daily basis that the expectations are rising. People are looking more to you, as their local representatives, to deliver,” McKenzie said.

He was addressing the KSAMC’s strategic planning workshop at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Mona, St Andrew, on Thursday.

McKenzie reminded the corporation’s representatives that the Local Governance Act, particularly Section 21, outlines the specific area of responsibility for local authorities.

These include: regulation of specific local economic and social activities; identifying, collecting and optimising revenue in order to finance operations; service delivery mandates, and developing and implementing local sustainable development plans.

McKenzie said strategic planning and urban development are critical areas that must be implemented for the smooth functioning of the municipality.

“There are no winners or losers at the KSAMC. The winners are the people that elected you to serve, and I am glad, despite some hiccups here and there, that there is a clear direction of what is important, and what is important is the people that we represent [and] the service that we offer to the people. The importance of this approach is clearly defined in the Local Governance Act,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Minister McKenzie praised the KSAMC for organising the strategic workshop.

“I think what you are doing today and over the next two days speaks volumes to the vision that is required to move local government,” he said.

Mayor of Kingston and KSAMC Chairman, Councillor Andrew Swaby, said the workshop provided an opportunity for the participants to examine their operations, identify areas of weaknesses and strengths as well as commit to making the necessary changes.

“As the largest municipal corporation in Jamaica, KSAMC must lead by example. The way we manage Kingston and St Andrew directly impacts the quality of life of our residents and the ease of doing business in our city.

“If Kingston is well-run, if our systems are efficient, if we deliver our services properly, it builds confidence in our governance and strengthens the city’s role in Jamaica’s economic and cultural capital. That is why we cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.

Councillor Swaby emphasised that planning and innovation are critical to delivering quality service.

“If we are serious about delivering quality service, we must have a business-minded approach to governance. Successful companies do not react to problems; they plan, adapt and innovate,” he said.

During the session, laptop computers were presented to councillors.

–         JIS

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