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Speech

August 16 2006

Mr. Chairman,
President of the Senate Dr. Linda Baboolal,
Speaker of the House of Representative, Mr. Barry Sinanan,
Cabinet Colleagues,
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, Members of Parliament, Senators,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Permanent Secretaries and other Public Officials,
Alderman Murchison Brown Mayor of the City of Port of Spain,
Representatives of the Religious fraternity and of Trade Unions, Representatives of Community-based and Civil Society organizations, Members of the Protective Services,
Members of the media,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

I consider it a signal honour and a most welcomed development to have the opportunity to address this distinguished gathering of representatives of the National Community at this formal launch of our National Consultation on the Draft White Paper on Local Government Reform.

Today therefore, in keeping with the government’s avowed commitment to the democratic process and maximum participation of our citizens in the process of National Policy formulation, we bring to the public domain the opportunity to discuss this fundamental issue of Local Government Reform.

Moreover, the government considers Local Government Reform as a precursor to the critical process of Constitutional Reform. You would recall that, when the Draft White Paper was laid in the House of Representatives on May 26th, 2006, I stated then that we would be producing our own Draft Consultation Reform document for public discussion.

This document was recently presented to me by Sir Ellis Clarke and will soon be available to the National Community for discussion on a much wider scale than the principles of fairness committee document on Constitutional Reform.

In order to put into proper perspective today’s launch of our public exposition of the Draft White Paper on Local Government Reform, I propose to focus primarily on the government’s proposals for Local Government Reform.

We have articulated on several occasions that a significantly improved Local Government system is indispensable to achieving our Vision 2020 imperatives of balanced regional development and the building sustainable communities.

Indeed, the deepening of the democratic process at the community level is critical to expanded service delivery to all sectors and people of the nation.

It is also important to conducting good governance, the more effective management of our various resources, and the enhancement of our competitiveness in the global arena.

We have noted the progress made by countries elsewhere in the world, countries such as Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, and Sweden and our Caricom neighbour Jamaica which have adopted an active policy of decentralization of governmental activities.

According to a recent publication of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 84% of the world’s developing countries with a population exceeding 5 million claim to be currently engaged in some form of transfer of authority to Local Government.

Local Government bodies throughout the world have been enlisted in the promotion of the millennium development goals which set the bench marks with respect to the eradication of poverty, improvement of primary health care, achievement of universal primary education, the reduction of HIV Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases, and the achievement of other critical, universal imperatives.

Globally, Local Government is recognized as a partner in the governance and development process.

This recognition, though not new, has emerged as a consequence of the search for models that will optimize the way in which political power within the state is organized and utilized.

In this context, the essence of Local Government is acceptance of the fact that all the functions and responsibilities of the state cannot be carried out on the basis of Central Administration alone.

From very early, with the development of the nation state, the key philosophers regarding the role of the state in society advocated a system of decentralized government.

The French philosopher, Jean Jacques Roseau, for example, was impressed with the democratic principles and practices pursued in Sweden during his time and articulated Local Government as a good spawning ground for democratic development.

Likewise, Alexis De Tocqueville, on visiting to the United States of America was more than fascinated by the involvement of citizens in municipal government and the critical role they were playing in nurturing that country’s democracy.

Today, in many countries, the decentralization of Local Government is an integral part of their public sector reform initiative and, in a few cases, the more progressive instances, part of the wider democratic and national reconstruction policy such as Constitutional Reform.

Our position regarding the role of Local Government in the Governance and development process was articulated in our party’s manifesto of 2002 and is consistent with our approach since assumption of office.

Since then, we have in fact embarked on a most transparent and democratic process to chart the way forward.

In this regard, a Draft Policy Paper was formulated by the Government in 2004. It incorporated previous reports on Local Government Reform as well as the views, opinions and suggestions of individuals and institutions including our Municipal Corporations.

Subsequent to Cabinet’s review and acceptance of this paper, a Green Paper was published for public comment. Thereafter, the basis for additional widespread consultations was laid. This included a two day National Consultation, together with Regional Consultations between August and September 2004.

More than 1,000 persons from a wide cross section of the national community participated in these consultations. They represented over 35 groups, organizations and institutions including village councils and community-based and non-governmental organizations, women’s groups, Religious Bodies, trade unions, political parties and the business sector.

Focus groups discussions were also held on the Green Paper. In addition, the commentaries and suggestions of individuals and institutions were received and reviewed by the Ministry of Local Government.

The Green Paper was laid in the Senate in October 22nd, 2004 and in the House of Representatives on October 29, 2004.

The numerous consensual issues and positions emerging from these consultations presented to Cabinet in August of last year, together with the findings and recommendations of the Local Government Interministerial Transitional Task Force on the functions and responsibilities to be decentralized to Local Government Bodies.

Following this, the Cabinet agreed to the necessity for a revised Green Paper incorporating both reports. This was presented to Cabinet in April this year and subsequently converted into a Draft White Paper which was endorsed by Cabinet in May 2006.

I now take the opportunity to outline some of its main policy proposals.

Before delving into the main policy proposals or prescriptions, permit me indicate that the broad objective of reform of the Local Government system. The overarching objective is the development of a proper pathway towards fulfillment of the necessary covenant between the Government and the people to mutually work towards the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens via the delivery of quality public service and amenities, which are compatible with local needs and expectations.

Fundamentally, in keeping with our Vision 2020 imperatives, it is about developing Municipal Bodies that can operate within a decentralized framework, and be better capable of discharging their responsibilities to citizens.

I now turn to the specific proposals.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, one of our key Local Government Reform proposals is a remodeling of the Local Government system, through a proper framework or arrangement for the sharing of power between Central and Local Government in Trinidad and Tobago. Under this new system the Central Government will be essentially the policy making body, while the Local Government will be the principal executing arm of the State. This arrangement will not apply to portfolios such as National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Energy.

There will also be some revised arrangements in some other areas of State activities. Naturally, the discharge of certain some functions will remain under national arrangements such as the Water and Sewerage Authority, The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Airports Authority and the Roads Authority.

Other functions would be discharged by the Local Government Bodies, which would be restructured to be invested with significant and enhanced project management capability. This will also be utilized to deliver services in through the incorporation, additionally, of various private sector arrangements.

This system of power sharing will ensure the decentralization of authority required now for quite some time in this country.

Today, however, it is more decisively appreciated, both locally and abroad, that proximity between decision makers and those they must serve is likely to result in the more effective and efficient delivery of public goods and services.

The decentralization of functions and responsibilities to Local Government Bodies, rather than the devolution of power, is therefore being advocated as the core of our model of Local Government Reform.

The government recognizes the necessity for an appropriate framework of decentralization. In our view, a level of devolution of authority that involves the decentralization of policy decision-making can encourage fragmentation of our unitary state and across the society, and must be avoided.

This is a position supported by proponents of Local Government who also believe that the avoidance of any such approach constitutes one way of preventing territorial or regional fragmentation of the collective will of the people of a country, on account of the absence of common hopes, aspirations and values.

The government’s proposals are also based on the desire for enhanced democracy.

Through Local Government Reform, the government also intends to improve the representation of the people’s interest in this country. Another salient proposal therefore seeks an enlarged Senate of Trinidad and Tobago to include all Mayors and Chairmen of Municipal Corporations.

Though without a vote, each will have the additional opportunity to speak out on matters specifically affecting his/her region, borough and city.

Their contributions will serve to enhance the representational function now being discharged by Parliamentary Representatives and members of the senate.

The people’s interest will therefore be better served. Community concerns and issues would in consequence be vigorously aired in the nation’s highest forum, providing the opportunity for much greater influence on national policies, programmes and legislation.

In short and very significantly, this proposal will ensure a greater voice for the people in our nation’s parliament, thereby strengthening their participation in the democratic process. The intention is that the feeling of being away from the centre will be significantly diminished.

In our efforts to strengthen the capacity of Local Government institutions to manage their affairs, to meet the needs of local communities, and to provide better service and promote sustainable strategies, the government proposes also the introduction of Executive Councils in the Local Government system of Trinidad and Tobago.

These Executive Councils shall constitute the leadership of Local Government Bodies, with elected and nominated officials who shall be responsible for the performance of assigned roles and functions, and shall be responsible to their Local Government body for the management of particular departments or portfolios. Our inspiration in this regard has been our experience in the operation of the Tobago House of Assembly model.

The Executive Council shall take collective responsibility for management of its Local Government body, in the implementation of the policies of the Central Government.

Ladies and gentlemen, taking a holistic view of our reform agenda, the government recognizes also the necessity to undertake a review of Local Government boundaries.

Currently, at the level of the Central Government, there is an administrative district arrangement, the boundaries for which do not now coincide with those of Local Government.

This position ought to be reviewed, since it is our view that, if both sets of boundaries are coterminous with each other, an opportunity is presented for the Local Government bodies to discharge a coordinating function in respect of the administration of certain Central Government responsibilities, such as education and the delivery of social services, to name a few.

There is concern over the number of administrative districts caused by the use of different boundaries and through separate government agencies. While some measure of this is not overly avoidable, the local situation has been significantly aggravated by the fact that communities are virtually carved up in different ways depending on the application for which the boundary is used. There is therefore the need for the proper streamlining of the system. There is the need to established new districts through a process of rationalization, thereby enabling greater participation by the people in the affairs of their community.

Our boundary demarcations must be functional, rational and user-friendly. They must facilitate regional identification and mobilization, programme co-ordination and administration among the various agencies, as well as efficient and effective service delivery to our communities. One of the proposed strategies for reviewing and rewriting the Local Government boundaries is thorough examination of a number of factors including the emerging new growth poles, new pattern of settlement and new centres of industrial and commercial activity. The intention is to ensure more effective national and regional planning, as well as the growth of sustainable communities. This proposal could affect the size, number and type of Local Government bodies.

Ladies and gentlemen, our proposals for reform also incorporate financing or funding issues. This aspect has long been a bone of contention. The government is proposing a degree of self-financing for Local Government bodies.

The expectation is that through the collection of appropriate rates and taxes, all Local Government bodies should be able to finance a greater part of their annual budget than currently obtains. We would therefore need to put in place the administrative and legal requirements to establish Property Taxation/House Rate Collection Units and Systems in those Local Government bodies where they do not now exist.

We must also develop a pragmatic formula for the allocations from Central Government, based on demographics as well as other social and infrastructural needs.

Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen the foregoing constitutes the five main policy proposals for reform of the Local Government system.

However, if the desired results are to be realized, the Local Government system must possess the requisite technical, human, financial and physical resources and capabilities to sustain the delivery of a high quality of public service. This means there must be an appropriate legislative framework to support the drive towards the desired and required state of affairs. Such a legislative framework would provide the legal impetus and a fresh start to a newly energized, dynamic, modernized and progressive system of Local Government.

This requirement to put the necessary legislative framework in place is one of the main reasons why the life of the existing Local Government Councils was extended by virtue of Act No. 14 of 2006.

In terms of the way forward for undertaking the reform to bring us to the new system of Local Government within the one (1) year timeframe allotted, five (5) main critical activities are required.

• The clear demarcation of the roles, functions and responsibilities of Local Government Bodies.
• The determination of an appropriate structure for Local Government Bodies and the Ministry of Local Government.
• The determination of the boundaries of Local Government and more so the types and number of such bodies.
• The establishment of Property Taxation/House Rate Units and Systems in Regional Corporations and modernization of the Property Taxation System.
• The drafting of the legislative provisions to give effect to reform proposals.

Significantly, effective Local Government decentralization in the context of reform requires that clearly defined roles, functions and responsibilities for Local Government Bodies, which must be understood and appreciated by both Central and Local Government representatives and practitioners alike.

Such clear demarcation of roles, functions and responsibilities and there understanding and appreciation by operatives at both Central and Local Government levels become more significant, indeed critical, as Local Government assumes non-traditional functions in areas such as planning and development, the maintenance of public buildings, public security and environmental protection.

I wish to compliment those government agencies and departments responsible for the tremendous amount of work that has been undertaken in planning, organizing and promoting the Local Government Reform programme.

As a government, we are confident that we are on the right track.

Not only do our initiative result from local consultation but also our participation at international Local Government fora such as the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, the Inter-American Network on Decentralization, Local Government and Citizens Participation, and the World Bank sponsored World Summit of Cities and Local Government Authorities, revealed that our Local Government reform policies and programmes have found widespread acceptance. Consultations at every level, locally and internationally, are providing us with the wherewithal to pursue this path, which is pragmatic but revolutionary, and which is also timely, relevant and progressive.

Today marks a very significant milestone in the Local Government Reform process as we commence another round of comprehensive National Consultation on this important issue of Local Government Reform.

I urge all participants here today to engage in frank and open discussions on the policy proposals contained in the Draft White Paper on Local Government Reform, and to put forward your views and suggestions passionately, albeit with due courtesy and respect for each other’s opinions and viewpoints.

I have no doubt that you shall be guided always by the necessity to make a meaningful contribution to the type, nature, institutional framework, functions, responsibilities and decision-making and developmental processes regarding our regions, boroughs and cities.

Local Government has a pivotal role to play in this process and must be empowered to play its part in this quantum leap towards nation building and development.

Let us therefore embrace this opportunity for collective dialogue and collaboration, as we continue to pursue the process of transforming Trinidad and Tobago into a developed nation.

I wish you every success in your discussions. The government looks forward to the outcome of your deliberations.

Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen.
May God bless you.
May God bless our nation.
THANK YOU

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