By Teino Evans, Staff ReporterTHE NEWLY-FORMED monitoring committees established by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to oversee the work of the Parish Councils will be manned by persons from civil society, the private sector and the political party.
Opposition spokesman on Local Government, Pearnel Charles, said the decision was taken in order to achieve transparency, accountability and high moral standards in the work of Parish Councillors over the next few years.
It is expected that as soon as Parish Councillors are sworn in, the committees will have a meeting with Parish Council heads to discuss how they can work together.
The JLP who swept the June 19 Local Government elections, had announced during a party retreat last weekend that it would be setting up a number of party committees which would be appointed to oversee the work of Councillors.
According to Mr. Charles, "the JLP recognised that a number of the parish councillors are entering public life for the first time," and would therefore need guidance and training.
He also stated that the committees would not be a part of the Parish Councils, but would guide, report to and advise on Local Government issues.
The idea, he said, is to ensure that the Parish Councils operate under the principles that the JLP had been professing: "Transparency, accountability and that they be of the highest standard of morality practised in their duty."
Mr. Charles also indicated that there was a general perception that Parish Councils and the KSAC have never carried out the expectations of the people, and "we want to dispel that
perception."
CLOSE TABS
Among the committees set up by the JLP, is a performance committee which will keep close tabs on the Parish Councils to observe their level of performance, and to assist where levels are low; a planning and policy committee, which will look closely at Government's proposals for Local Government Reform; an oversight committee, which will be the watchdog to ensure that the party is not let down by its councillors; a deportment committee, which will examine the conduct and behaviour of the councillors and a Council of Mayors, which will allow JLP Mayors to meet on a regular basis to discuss their experiences.
