'Dissolve the local gov't authorities body'

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

PEOPLE'S NATIONAL Party (PNP) councillor and minority leader, Denise Daley of the Linstead division, has called for the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA) to be dissolved.

The call, which was supported by some members of her party, was made during last Thursday's sitting of the St Catherine Parish Council.

"The purpose for ALGA no longer exists because I don't believe that I am seeing ALGA representing us at any level so far since Mayor Brown has taken over. It's either that or we are going to change Mayor Brown now and get somebody who is very serious about our well-being and the welfare of councillors," declared Daley.

She argued that in addition to inadequately representing the councillors, mayor of May Pen and chairman of ALGA, Milton Brown, has failed to move the local government reform process forward.

"Up until now, the reform process has taken a back seat in local governance ... we need to stop paying ALGA. We need to get an association that is willing to take up the reform process, so that anything that we need in going forward we will be able to articulate them," Daley added.

Lack of interest

In a sharp response, council chairman and ALGA's vice-chairman, Dr Andrew Wheatley, indicated that ALGA's executive, which comprises of members of both parties, believes that councillors lack interest in the reform process. At the same time, he asserted that councillors in St Catherine have failed to drive the process.

"We must share some of the blame as it relates to the reform process. We have been delinquent in pushing our reform agenda at this council ... the level of support that we would expect from the councillors of St Catherine, before we talk about ALGA, as it relates to the reform process, we are not serious about it," Wheatley declared.

He indicated, however, that while he was not satisfied with the rate at which the reform process was progressing, some strides had been made in advancing its agenda.

"For example, direct financing coming to local authorities, it has started in three councils. It will be coming to the St Catherine Parish Council and all the other councils by August 2011," noted Wheatley.