THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will be focusing on several critical areas during 2014 in order to improve the services of the Georgetown, Corriverton, Rose Hall, New Amsterdam, Linden and Anna Regina municipalities.During a press briefing Monday at the ministry’s boardroom, Kingston, Minister in the Ministry of local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which some of the municipalities have been expending their revenues.
Revenue garnering
In 2013, the Georgetown municipality received $1.46B, which was obtained through revenues from various sources, primarily rates and taxes; of this amount, $981M was used to meet employment costs.
New Amsterdam received $86.5M, and of that amount, $51M was used to meet employment costs as well. Corriverton, on the other hand, expended $38.7M out of a budgeted $49.2M to provide services, while Rose Hall used $19.3M out of $29.3M for the same purpose.
“People would expect that the municipality would use most of the rates and taxes to improve the services that are offered that mean so much to the people…people have expectations, and when those expectations are not met, obviously it raises concerns,” Minister Whittaker stressed.
He however said his ministry will seek to have more dialogue and consultations with the people who are the beneficiaries of the services being provided, so that they (the people) will have an input in terms of what, and where those services are provided.
He expressed optimism that once this action is put into place, the people will have a greater “buy-in”, in terms of the plans of the municipalities which would eventually result in more persons paying their rates and taxes.

Trimming
The Georgetown municipality has over 700 employees, and Minister Whittaker said that the ministry will continue to down size, relocate and merge in order to reduce the amount of revenue used to meet employment costs. He said attempts by the Town Clerk in this regard have been met with arrogance and hostility.

Drainage
The recent heavy rainfall and the flooding in some communities within the municipalities and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have drawn attention to nature and the extent of the services that are provided by some municipalities.
The ministry has been engaging the Georgetown City Council over a lengthy period on what needs to be done so that the critical services that can reduce the impact of rainfall will be provided.
“Things like the maintaining of kokers and sluices and pumps for which they have the responsibility… You don’t wait for the rainy season to get busy. Is it asking too much of the taxpayers that a significant amount of the rates that they pay be used to ensure that sluices and pumps are in a state of readiness 365 days a year?” Minister Whittaker queried.
Much of the Council’s attention has been focused on providing reasons as to why it hasn’t been able to deliver, while the residents are made to suffer.
The ministry will be working extensively on improving the drainage system in the municipalities, ensuring that drains are clean, and that pumps, sluices and kokers are properly maintained. Vending of the reserves will also be addressed
Despite the many challenges, the minister said, there were noticeable, positive improvements in Georgetown, such as an increased inflow of revenues: the huge bank overdraft has been reduced to zero; the statutory debts were eliminated; and workers were paid on time, because of extensive measures that were taken by the Town Clerk, with the support of the Local Government Ministry.

(GINA)