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Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean which has a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. It divided in 745 communities grouped into 72 Development Areas, across the 14 Parish Councils established at a whole of nation: 1. Kingston & St. Andrew, 2. St Thomas, 3. Manchester, 4. Clarendon, 5. St. Elizabeth, 6. Westmoreland, 7. Hanover, 8. St. James, 9. Trelawny, 10. St. Ann, 11. St. Mary, 12. Portland, 13. St. Catherine, and 14. Portmore (Minister Paper 7/03 "Local Government Reform Policy", published in February 4, 2003. Pages 1-2).
The decentralization process has been undertaken through a Reform of Local Government, guided by way of the tabling of Ministry Paper 8/93 "Reform of Local Government", published in February 17th, 1993 which intention was to establish a decentralized model of local governance that confers substantial self management on localities/communities, and facilitate meaningful participation of civil society in the processes of local governance and local sustainable development.
As mentioned above, The Ministry of Local Government & Community Development is the governmental institution which acts as the agent of local development. This covers the areas of: 1. Development planning, 2. Minor water supplies, 3. Municipal parks & beautification, 4. Markets, 5. Parochial road maintenance, 6. Poor relief, 7. Street lighting, 8. Solid waste management, 9. Fire services, 10. Disaster preparedness and emergency management, 11. Local government amenities i.e. abattoirs, pounds and cemeteries, and 12. Local government reform, which was added when a Reform Unit was established in 1994 guided by a policy paper written a year earlier as well as extensive discussions on the issues over the years.
Between 2003 and 2004, The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development initiated a several measures to re-confirm Government's commitment to the Local Government Reform and to re-energize the process. Some of those measures were: Publication in 2003, of Minister Paper 7/03 "Local Government Reform Policy", published in February 4, 2003, to re-iterate and elaborate the policy framework which had been established in Ministry Paper 8/93 "Reform of Local Government", published in February 17th, 1993 and to enumerate a new implementation strategy and action plan; and 2. Re-establishing the National Advisory Council (NAC) on Local Government Reform, in February 2004.
In 2009, the NAC on Local Government Reform by way of the document "Final Report of the National Advisory on Local Government Reform", published in November 2009 made recommendation and suggestions regarding substantive issues of reforming the local government system: 1. Recommendations in respect of Democracy, Participation and Accountability; 2. Recommendations in respect of Finance and Funding of Local Government; 3. Recommendations in respect of the Structure and Functions of Local Government; 4. Recommendations in respect of the Legal Framework for a Reformed Local Government; 5. Recommendations in respect of the Way Forward ("Final Report of the National Advisory on Local Government Reform", published in November 2009, Pages 53-62).
In Jamaica, The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is responsible for undertaking the Reform of Local Government process, taking into account the recommendations and suggestions made by National Advisory Council (NAC) on Local Government Reform.
The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development dispenses its functions through agencies and local authorities, namely: 1. Jamaica Fire Brigade, 2. Board of Supervision (which is responsible for the nation's infirmaries), 3. The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), 4. Social Development Commission (SDC), 5. Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and 6. The twelve (12) Parish Councils, along with the Kingston & Saint Andrew and Portmore Municipal Councils - Local Authorities.
As well, The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has the overall responsibility of implementing a comprehensive programme of Local Government Reform and establishing a framework to ensure the future viability and relevance of this programme to the needs of the people.
Major objectives for The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development are as following:
a) Introduction of a new strategy for Solid Waste Management to include Establishment of a National Solid Waste Management Authority, finalizing of the new National Solid Waste Management Policy, establishing new practices for sorting waste at disposal sites;
b) On-going support for Capacity building processes for Community Development and in particular the strengthening and further development of Communities (through Parish Development Committees) to be implemented by the SDC under the Parish Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Project;
c) Infrastructure development under the PIDP in collaboration with the Technical Services Unit which includes, the rehabilitation of roads island-wide, the refurbishing of markets and offices of the Local Authorities and the rehabilitation of minor water supplies;
d) Continuing support for the Local Government Reform Process through:
e) Expansion of the Parochial Revenue Fund to 100% collection of motor vehicle licenses fees, instead of the 66 2/3% Local Authorities presently receive;
f) Continuing reform of Welfare services;
g) Further development of the cultural infrastructure by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission to include additional refurbishing of Ranny Williams Centre, completion of cultural facilities at Addision Park in St. Ann, and refurbishing of Llandilo in Westmoreland and Independence Park in Black River;
h) Comprehensive restructuring and modernizing of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to include reorganization of staffing training of staff, the procurement of fire fighting trucks and other related equipment, the refurbishing of fire stations island-wide and procurement of computers;
i) Incorporating environmental concerns into operational practices;
j) Development of Citizens Charters for the Department and each Agency; and
k) Setting the framework for the granting of Municipality status to Portmore
The Government of Jamaica has developed strategies and mechanisms for strengthening and improving the Local Government Reform by way of the "Final Report of the National Advisory on Local Government Reform" which sets out the following recommendations and suggestions:
1. Recommendation in respect of Democracy, Participation and Accountability. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:
2. Recommendation in respect of Finance Management - Local Authorities. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:
3. Recommendations in respect of the Structure and Functions of Local Government. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:
4. Recommendation in respect of the Legal Framework for a Reformed local Government. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:
5. Recommendation in respect of the Way Forward. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:
In 2012, the Reform Achievements has been the following: