THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Monday launched a three-day workshop for its Regional Development Officers (RDOs) who are based at various regions.

Permanent Secretary of the Regional Development Ministry, Collin Croal, said the workshop gives time to reflect on and assess various matters, and listen to updates from senior regional development officers.
He added that the workshop would also focus on familiarizing officers with financial records and, by extension, the new systems in place for local government elections.
He noted that it is important for the local government staff to be familiar with preparations for local government elections, and added that the rest of the week would see officers out in the field with monitoring and evaluation programmes.

Minister within the Local Government Ministry, Mr Norman Whittaker, said Local Government authorities are usually the ones interacting with residents to see that projects are being implemented and quality works are produced. They also report on what they have been up to, and share concerns.
Whittaker emphasised the need to have improvements in communities, noting that it is vital to monitor and use the limited resources to deliver vital services to communities.
He added that the LGRD Ministry sees interaction in communities as a big help to the Government, as this usually helps to confirm and prioritise the needs of those communities.
Minister Whittaker said such interactions are integral to decision-making, as Local Government officers offer views and ideas on the way forward.
He emphasised the need for officers to do more than just respond when asked a question by the LGRD Minister or his Permanent Secretary. He encouraged maximum observation and the proffering of ideas that lead to desired improvements.
He noted that the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) would each soon be presenting their annual budgets for 2014, and asserted that, in this process, it is necessary for actions that are more than just reactions, but should be pro-actions.

He added that, over time, the LGRD Ministry would have identified a lot more irregularities in the local authorities.
Whittaker said it is crucial to ensure the limited resources given to the officers are well spent, and that Regional Development Officers play a role in sharing their views to point out weaknesses in the system.
Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud, commended Minister Whittaker’s remarks and advised that those present take heed and continue to do the right things.
He noted that in the business of everyday life, many persons lose sight of the importance of their roles and functions. He said many officers have misconceived their roles and functions, and this should not be so.
He explained that the local government system is a democratic organ with different tiers of people, and many people shade under the excuse that their jobs are in an assistant capacity, when in truth this is not so.
Persaud pointed out that the officers are the direct link to the ministry, and have the responsibility to provide feedback and update to the ministry.
He also encouraged the officers to give the necessary guidance to the respective authorities if they are uncertain about anything.
He said irregularities were discovered in some Regional Administrations, and Regional Executive Officers (REOs) failed to report this.
He advised that officers be “conscious of their authority and responsibilities,” as too often “we are seen in different light,” the Local Government system is a monitoring and evaluation system which sees this being done as a continuous activity.
He recommended that “if you monitor, you will gather information and data”, which can be very useful and can be used in formulating certain judgements or arriving at certain decisions.
Minister Persaud noted that knowledge and information can impact an organisation and its leadership, to make things more organised, and to enhance service delivery and effectiveness.
He urged that persons look more closely at programmes and projects, as tainted reports are often generated.
Officers present were asked to present a synopsis of their fourth quarter projections for their administrations, while other officers will make presentations as they seek to inform and remind themselves of their third quarter journey and the plans for the fourth quarter of 2013.
He concluded that RDOs have many roles and functions, as they enable the achievement of their administrations by ways and means reflected in proper management and record-keeping, so as to ensure things, such as financial actions, are in keeping with the laws and regulations.

(By Savitri Laikram)