As Local Government Elections (LGE) draw near, officers of the Georgetown Municipality interacted with their colleagues of the Anna Regina Municipality at a two-day workshop that concluded recently at Anna Regina.The local government officers also examined ways in which municipalities can improve their service to citizens.

Town Clerk Diane Critchlow welcomed the officers from Georgetown and noted that the Georgetown Municipality is considered to be a model for other municipalities and Anna Regina stands ready to partner with Georgetown and learn from the successes of Georgetown.

“The Ann Regina Municipality is in need of help in many critical areas, we are cognisant that Georgetown Municipality can help,” Town Clerk Critchlow said.

The Anna Regina Town Clerk explained the many challenges the municipality faces and among them are a narrow revenue base, delinquent rate payers and stall holders and high staff turnover.

These, she explained, stymie the growth of the Anna Regina Municipality.

The officers discussed critical issues relevant to their field of work which included increasing the revenue-earning capacity of the municipalities, providing joint municipal training programmes for local government officers, expanding services in critical areas to help employees in need, upgrading of rate system and improving the rate collection, street vending and its impact on towns, the need to review the current City by-Laws, the need and importance of the Public Health Department in face of current environmental treats, improving relationship with critical stakeholders, and the need for the use of information and communication technologies to improve efficiency.

City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon said municipalities are traditionally positioned as service oriented organisations.
Therefore, in economic down turns, the municipalities still have to continue to the provide service to the population and position itself to remain financially buoyant.

Hence, new revenue earing endeavors must be explored and implemented for municipalities to sustain its operations and remain relevant.

Georgetown City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon was able to point out additional areas in which the revenue earning capability of the Anna Regina municipality can be enhanced.

He referred to the Municipal and District Council Act 28:01, where areas of the laws have not been put into effect by the Anna Regina Municipality.

Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry Munroe pointed to building of good relationship with all the stakeholders including the business community, residents and vendors.

She pointed to the importance of encouraging dialogue with all stakeholders.

At the end of the two-day programme, the officers provided recommendations relevant to the areas that were discussed.

These recommendations were made taking into consideration the context and culture in which both municipalities function and the needs of the municipalities.

The Georgetown Municipality has pledged to provide training for Police Constables and Daycare Assistants for the Anna Regina Municipality. Also, officers from Georgetown would be seconded to Anna Regina to provide on-the-job training in other critical areas.