MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (LGRD), Mr. Norman Whittaker, disclosed at a recent press conference that the LGRD Ministry will be hosting its first Town Clerk Conference on October 25, when it is expected to elaborate on reviews of the levels of performance of various municipalities, address challenges, and discuss progress achieved in the various municipalities.

The minister reminded that the ministry recently concluded a training session for personnel such as town clerks, treasurers, and others involved in financial management of municipalities. He said that even as that training was well received, its effectiveness would be measured by the standard of financial reports those officers submit.
Municipal Management

In regard to municipal management, Minister Whittaker highlighted that, this year, the Government made available $65M to assist with municipalities’ capital programmes; and with funding available, the municipalities would be catering for repair of roads, provision of effective drainage, procurement of equipment, provision of lighting, bridge rehabilitation, and solid waste collection.

All of the six municipalities have received the first tranche of the 2013 subventions, and are at various stages of executing works, he said, adding that the private sector has been brought in to assist in solid waste management.

The minister explained that the Anna Regina Municipality was awarded $9M, and thus far has made quite a lot of progress in executing projects which focus on roads and drainage work. The New Amsterdam Municipality received $10M; Rose Hall Town, $8M; Corriverton, $8M; and Linden $10M.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Georgetown Municipality, he said, because that municipality intends to use its subvention to acquire two used 10–tonne trucks with skid-steer loaders, for which the procurement process has already commenced.

He pointed out that in a recent meeting with the municipality, it was discussed that, for the past two years, the Council has been acquiring machinery and equipment to help with drainage and solid waste management, but the LGRD Ministry and Georgetown residents are dissatisfied with the training offered to the operators of these pieces of equipment, and the level of care and maintenance of the equipment. As such, the LGRD Ministry has secured the consent of the Ministry of Public Works to provide needed training to the equipment operators, and the City Council has been urged to identify persons for this training.

He disclosed that, during the meeting, it was discussed that there was need to pick up the pace on consultation processes with residents, which would lead to possible identification of projects for the 2014 subvention programme.

All of the municipalities have been encouraged in this regard, he said; and by November 15, they are expected to submit their subvention projects and estimates.