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:

• Institutional strengthening for Local Authorities by way of Capacity building for technical and administrative functions, through the provision of training and equipment in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Canadian Institute for Development Assistance (CIDA);
• Revenue enhancement (under the PIDP project) aimed at widening the revenue base of Local Authorities. This will facilitate financial autonomy and includes a proposal to improve the collection of property taxes;
• Re-introduction of Local Rates associated with the provision of property related services such as solid waste management, street lighting and fire fighting;

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:

• A better sequencing of programme development activities that swiftly encourage social capital formation or reconstruction.
• Priority attention must be given to formulating a National Policy on Decentralization, to provide clear and coherent policy guidelines for pursuing local government reform, community empowerment and local sustainable development, as well as the pursuit of other forms decentralization.

2. Recommendation in respect of Finance Management - Local Authorities. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:

• Financing and Financial Management - Local Authorities: Considerations should be given to establishing a policy of revenue/tax sharing, under which Councils would receive a share revenues derived from the exploitation of natural resources occurring in their parish, special facilities located in their area, or major economic activity that takes place in their jurisdiction.
• The Parochial Revenue Fund: The Ministry of Local Government & Community Development should have portfolio responsibility for all laws dedicated to the financing of local government, such as the Property Tax Act, the Licenses on Trades and Businesses Act, the Spirit Licenses Ac, and relevant sections of the Road Traffic Act.

3. Recommendations in respect of the Structure and Functions of Local Government. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:

• Retaining the structure of local government with the Parish as the administrative unit taking into account its advantages which include: facilitating effective citizen participation, particularly in the context of the emerging participatory framework; promoting organization of citizen around a meaningful cause; Parish level framework promotes unity of communities.
• Allocation of functions between Central and Local Government should be determined on the basis of clear and rigorous criteria, and follow very precise procedures regarding the process for taking decisions in this regard.

4. Recommendation in respect of the Legal Framework for a Reformed local Government. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:

• Local Government be entrenched in the Constitution which include: Defining the nature of local government (democratic, participatory, accountability); Guaranteeing the right of Local Government to generate & spend its own revenue; Establishing broad principles and procedures for assigning functions between the various tiers of Government.
• Promulgation of a new Local Government Reform Act for which includes: Defining the scope/functions of Local Authorities in the new dispensation; Designating the types of Local Authorities that are to be accommodated under the new Local Government system, and defining the scope, powers and jurisdiction of each type.

5. Recommendation in respect of the Way Forward. Some recommendation and suggestions are as follows:

• Implementing the recommendations coming out of the "Final Report of the National Advisory on Local Government Reform", ensuring ongoing Debate and discourse with all stakeholders in the process of reform and transformation.
• Monitoring and facilitating action, performance and results at the local level.
• Facilitating the practice of network management so critical to modern governance.

In 2012, the Reform Achievements has been the following:

• Legal Framework: Policy for Strategic Laws (Governance, Finance and Human Resource) submitted to Cabinet; Proposal submitted to Attorney General for the entrenchment of Local Government in the Jamaican Constitution; National Building Bill has been tabled in Parliament; and National Building Code developed.
• Finance & Funding Framework: Financial Management & Accounting System (FMAS) installed in 5 Councils; 6 councils undergoing pre-installment activities; 4 Councils now receiving financing directly from Ministry of Finance & the Public Service; Improved Property Tax compliance rate 44% in 2007 - 2008 to 52% 2009-2010; and Improved Property Tax collection $J1.7b 2009-2010 to $2.4b 2010-2011.
• Citizens Participation: Reform Committees established in Councils; Parish Development Committees (PDCs) established in all councils; Regular Mayor's Forum being hosted island wide; Parish visioning symposium executed in all parishes to start parish development plans.
• Accountability & Transparency: Local Public Accounts Committees (LPACs) have been established in all councils; and Participatory budgeting implemented.
• Capacity Building: Organization review of the Local Authorities commissioned along with completion of the diagnostic report; Assessment conducted with a view to strengthening PDCs & LPACs; Review of the Portmore model conducted and final report completed to determine replicability.
• Institutional Strengthening: Streetlights- database management system developed and to be rolled out by Councils in new calendar year; and currently undergoing rehabilitation: Infirmaries, Council Buildings, Markets, and Fire Stations.
• International Collaboration: Jamaica selected as Secretariat for Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers; Execute project which developed Regional Policy and Cooperation Framework; Exposure of Councils to international confab, seminar & conferences for best practice in Local Governance and Local Economic Development.