Buy in for local govt reform

What is it that one is trying to achieve and why? It should start with the needs of the people in the communities.

Those needs include among others, a reliable water supply, safe communities, a swift response to fire and health emergencies, adequate sporting facilities, access to government services and a clean environment.

The next stage ought to be discussions as to the best ways to achieve the objectives agreed upon. Finally, the discussion should shift to cost and means of finding sustainable ways to maintain the quality of the services offered.

Those are the basic steps for local government reform. Only after a thorough examination of the needs of the communities can there be buy in to a new vision for local government reform. I have suggested in the past that the present system of regional corporations has no relevance to the communities that has been established of the years.

Consequently, the cooperation and “buy in” necessary for a successful execution of a modern local government system cannot be achieved by the structures currently in effect. There is need to establish the following: • borders for the communities • the services that are required for the community • the personnel and skill set required • the infrastructure required and the management model for income and sustainability. After that has been determined, only then can one enact appropriate legislation to meet the demands of a modern local government structure.

Serious local government reform cannot be a top down model with no specific goals.

God Bless Our Nation.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email