Sheena Gayle, Freelance Writer

Montague

Western Bureau:

The Government is seeking to collect millions from trade licences, which is a requirement for all business operators, in an effort to boost revenues and improve services at the parish councils.

Speaking at the Regional Local Government Consultation and Conference (RLGCC) at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, yesterday, Minister of State with responsibility of Local Government Robert Montague confirmed that such a programme was deemed necessary in order to help in the local government reform process.

"Each business in Jamaica is required to have a trade licence. The proceeds from that are used to fund the local authority," Montague said. "But collections over the years have been woefully inadequate, which is less than 10 per cent islandwide."

Multi-agency task force

With the success rate from the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation of collecting $3 million from trade licences in two days since the launch of their programme two weeks ago, Montague has moved to establish a multi-agency task force to implement the programme across the island.

The agencies that will be involved in the process include the Inland Revenue Services, Public Health Authority, National Solid Waste Management (NSWMA) and the Ministry of Labour.

With the involvement of these critical agencies, "more money will be available to the council and a record of the businesses that are operating within the municipality" will ensure an efficient management of the councils," he said.

Under the theme 'Enhancing Local Governance', the three-day RLGCC will seek to establish and make available a regional policy and a cooperation framework on local governance for member states of the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers and CARICOM.