A DELEGATION of local government officials from Guyana, including Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Collin Croal, was recently in Trinidad and Tobago to attend the Regional Workshop on Policy and Communication Strategy Development for Local Government practitioners. The workshop, hosted by the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel, from July 18-20, with participants numbering 35, drawn from 11 Caribbean countries. Guyana’s other participants were Sammy Rampersaud of Anna Regina, and Bevon Sinclair, Chairman of the Rosehall Interim Management Committee.
The first two days of the workshop saw discussions centred on topics such as advocacy and lobby strategy development, and policy brief and position paper writing. The final day dealt with focus and strategy of CALGA.
CALGA, an alliance of National Local Government Associations within CARICOM, was established in 1992 and comprises members of local government associations, aimed at promoting local government in the Region.
To this end, CALGA has sponsored several short-term workshops and seminars in the Region to assist in disseminating information about the importance of local government authorities and to assist in maintaining the high level of standard administration within local government bodies.
While in Trinidad, PS Croal also paid a courtesy call on Head of the Caribbean Local Economic Development Programme (CARILED), Dr. Naresh Singh.
Dr. Singh, who was in Guyana in February, is expected back in August to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Canadian funded programme in Guyana, which is one of six Caribbean countries that will benefit from it.