Jamaica welcomes local government delegation from Trinidad and Tobago

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 12, CMC – Jamaica is hoping that the visit of a  Local Government delegation from Trinidad and Tobago will lead to a strengthening of the local government system in the Caribbean.
“There is a lack of a coordinated effort between countries in the region that actually practise local (governance). There are only a few countries that have such a system,” said Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie.
He said he is hoping that the visit of Glen Ram, Chairman of the Mayaro Rio Claro Regional Corporation in Trinidad and Tobago, will help to rebuild the regional local government regime.
“We are hoping that out of this visit by Mayor Ram we can forge and develop a stronger local government fraternity in the region,” McKenzie said.
Ram arrived in Jamaica on August 9 at the start of a five-day visit, as the guest of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, to observe the local government reform processes.
While here, Ram will visit the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM); meet with the mayors of Kingston and St. Ann’s Bay and with representatives of the Social Development Commission (SDC).
Ram said the primary objective of his visit is geared towards strengthening local government practices in the region.
He said that there are many similarities between the two countries, in terms of local governance, and indicated that, currently, in Trinidad and Tobago there is an ongoing effort to strengthen the local government process, so the visit is indeed timely.