PORTIA SIMPSON Miller, Minister of Local Government, has said that central government, no matter how decentralised, could not deliver on the multitude of non-standardised services being demanded by citizens or directly help needy people in towns, communities and rural areas to achieve sustainable livelihood."We want to assure you that this government is deeply committed to a highly reformed and effective local government system in Jamaica. The voices of our people will be heard and in constructive frameworks within which our people too can contribute to determining development priorities and in implementing policies," Simpson Miller said.
She was delivering the Prime Minister's message during the official opening ceremony of the 2004 Commonwealth Local Government Symposium at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James.
The three-day Regional Symposium on Local Democracy and Good Governance in the Caribbean ended Wednesday at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay, St. James. It was held under the theme: "Making Local Government Work".
Local government ministers and other top officials from the 53-member governments of the Commonwealth participated in discussions aimed at strengthening the system of local governance in the region.
Mrs. Simpson Miller observed that the process of decentralisation had been successful and had seen the "development of new citizen/state relationships which will be dynamic and appropriate for a 21st century Jamaica".
"Within this framework it is intended to ensure that a reformed local government system will be a vital force in Jamaica's political and social life, fully provided with the appropriate personnel and financial resources to succeed at this task," she said.
