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WELCOME

Remarks by the Hon. Robert Montague Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica.

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WELCOME

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  1. Remarks by the Hon. Robert Montague Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica

  2. The Commonwealth Vision for Local Government**********Commonwealth Local Government Conference,Our Lucaya Conference Grand Bahama, Freeport, BahamasMay 12, 2009

  3. WELCOME • CLGF Organizers • Bahamian Government & People • Delegates of the Americas • Commonwealth Delegates • Ladies & Gentlemen

  4. Presentation • Introduce key themes • Highlight key issues for discussion • Set out likely outcomes • Cite Caribbean experience

  5. The Vision to Lead • Leaders must be visionary • Organisation serious about succeeding • “Without vision the people perish” if policy makers and practitioners in local government cannot translate vision to communities

  6. Economic Crisis our Opportunity • Global economic crisis • Do not allow crisis to erode gains made in local government • Despite budget cuts • See the opportunity in the crisis

  7. Business Unusual Approach • Be not fearful of the storm • Learn to dance in the rain • Employ a Paradigm shift in doing business • Cultivate attitudinal shift which recognizes the multiplier effect

  8. Business Unusual Requires • Improving revenue streams • Improving customer service delivery • Increasing community dialogue • Identifying funding by finding new & deepening old partnerships • Adopting involved management approach

  9. Business Unusual Requires • Leading from the front • Articulating your vision well • Being innovative & creative • Sharing a common regional vision for local governance

  10. Needed • Regional vision • Sense of shared vision • Achieving collectively • United front

  11. Guiding Principles Aberdeen Agenda & Auckland Accord embrace: • Capacity building • Transparency • Autonomy • Accountability • Citizens participation

  12. Applying the Principles in Jamaica • Citizens involvement – town hall meetings, open budgeting • Autonomy- Central government returning functions • Transparency- local public accounts committee set up • Legal framework – Revision of strategic laws for entrenchment of local government in Constitution

  13. Ja’s International Application • CFLGM Chair • Regional Policy & Cooperation Framework developed • Policy articulates strategies and interventions to be pursued for effective regional governance • Regional and Int’l conferences serve to solidify implementation within national boundaries

  14. Regional Commitment • Committed to system that is citizen-centred • Confident in security of resources • Hosting of RIAD conference later this year to provide greater networking benefits • Provide opportunity for information sharing • Fosters move towards regional shared vision for local democracy

  15. Conference Background Paper Themes include: • Increasing role of local government and public expectations • Challenges of financing for local government • Importance of sound local democratic practices

  16. Conference Background Paper cont’d • Role of partnerships with private sector/NGOs • Challenge of measuring the progress that is being made at local level in terms of service delivery • Assessing local democracy and governance

  17. Conference Outcomes • Develop Conference Declaration • Recommendations to be forwarded to Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November in Trinidad & Tobago • Encourage Prime Ministers & other Heads to draw attention to role of local government in the main discussion at CHOGM

  18. The Charge • As visionary practitioners need to share recommendations arrived at • Commit to implementing recommendations arising out of conference • Each visionary practitioner to utilise conference tools to help local governance process at home

  19. CLGF’s Commitment • To move agenda forward • Designing leadership training intervention programmes • Supporting partnerships • Share skills under good practice scheme • Enhance collaborative effort between CALGA, CIDA, CLGF to strengthen partnership

  20. Supporting the Vision • Using network effectively • Maximising benefits of event • Supporting improvement of local government across Commonwealth

  21. Conclusion • Embrace vision • Embrace principles of Aberdeen Agenda and Auckland Accord • Success of conference relies heavily on your participation • Bahamas the right choice for CLGC Conference 2009 !!

  22. A Successful Conference to us All!

  23. Thank You!

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