Acting Local Government Commissioner, Glenroy Toussaint, has made a call for the Local Government Authority here to emulate the practice of good governance.
Speaking at an awards ceremony and cocktail in honor of a number of people who served in the local government system in Dominica, Toussaint encouraged accountability, transparency and fairness by those involved in local government.
“I want to sound a call to the local government authorities that they need to critically look at the issue of good governance as far as local authorities are concerned,” he said at the ceremony which was held at Garraway Hotel on Friday evening. “Good governance is a buzz word, but a simple thing, it’s really you having that responsibility to account to your constituents, to your residence; to account to central government, to account to other institutions as far as resources and otherwise that is being entrusted to the local government authorities.”
He said local government must take up the task and account for “every cent that is received by the local authorities and so doing we can ensure that we meet that principle of good governance.”
He also noted that transparency and fairness in local government are important. “The other question is transparency. You have all of the time to be as transparent as you can be. It is not a closed door thing what you do as local authorities,” he said. “The community people, the residents should know what is happening in the community, you have a responsibility to let them know what is happening and you got to be transparent. You got to be fair. You can be stern but you’ve got to be fair, it is important that you are fair, in whatever you do.”
Toussaint added that there should be no bias to one particular sector or group of people but “all should be on a level playing field.”
He noted that although the local government system in Dominica is said to be a model for the region, it is operated as a voluntary organization and there is still room for improvement.
Meantime Minister for Community Development, Gloria Shillingford, who also addressed the ceremony, said the efforts towards recognizing those who have sacrificed over the years in local government are commendable.
“There is too often the tendency to over look those who work willingly and tirelessly to take them for granted, while expecting more and more from them. It is indeed praiseworthy therefore that you have seen it fit to give them their due recognition,” she said.
Ten persons from the Dominica Association of Local Authorities (DALCA) and 10 from the local government division were awarded.
The ceremony was held in partnership with ARIAL programme among others and was observed under the theme ‘Recognizing the Role of DALCA Towards National Development’.
hmm shame on d local government department. they have tried hosting an award ceremony and it never came through its because of dalca it happened. that department is in a mess officers fighting with each other for position.
some of these people get brown envelopes on their desk in the morning and they shut their mouth.no accounting for travel expenses and theu still get advances. dno i want to know the names of those employees who got awards.
hey
Words of wisdom coming from the professor of Local Government. Well informed on the system the best in the system. Good job Mr Toussaint.
What hypocrisy. Complaining so much about the non sense that is going on in the system and they come ln podium pretending all is well. Shame on all you. Upholding nonsense
Tous, well articulated,good governance, transparency and accountability remains the corner stones of our democracy. Local Governance continue to be a most apt medium for community transformation, however party-political interferance which influences who leads and controls the resources of these councils is a challenge in realising your call. Leaders are called to lead by example, to uphold ‘integrity’ as the bed-rock for practicing ‘good governance’. Councils must be facilitated to build its own resource capacity (human,legal,institutional and financial in order to lift the quality of service they provide.
Isn’t this ironic that most of the highlighted words he used in his statement, the Government is doing the opposite thing.
“Good Governance”
“unbias”
“Transparency”
“Fairness”
“Accountability”
“Level Playing Field”
“Principle”
We have seen the total opposite to these adjectives and my observation is, Mr. Toussaint must have noticed that these are the deficiencies that exists in this current administration and contrary to what is being done, and that’s why he picked out these specific words.
Good governance is for all Authorities. I hope Mayor Irene John check out what is going on with Roseau City Council and their Accounts. Dey afraid to audit same because of what is happening. Do some investigation, Ag Local Govt Com. and Govt Auditor. This place is a MESS.
Christmas is coming very low volume of news items an that’s a good thing. “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL”!
Well said Mr. Toussaint.
“Good Government” sounds foreign cause we so accustomed to bad Government. “I’ve been down so long, it feels like up.”
dear sir may i suggest that you also offer those words of advise to the” Skerrit labour party administration.
without the help of these people, ministers could not be millionaires. give them all the praise for aiding and abetting.this bobol country of ours.
Mr. Toussaint I realise you have a job to do and it is worthy to call for good governance of local government persons.However when central government does not inform its constituents of things that we have a right to know then there is a lack of good governance model to follow.The prime minister signs a memorandom of understanding with China and refuses to let Dominicans see what it contains, also he signs a $300 million loan with China and won’t release the details for Dominicans to read.The government is also involved with bib bobol etc.therefore where is the good governance to emulate?
Dont hold your breath, sir.There is a saying that fish rots from the head down and such is the state of affairs in Dominica.
the word before $160.00 is meager and not made
Bias and hypocritical with strong political motives.
It is well past seven years since this government started a process of consultations with a view to upgrade and improve local government bodies in Dominica,by making changes to the local government Act.
Councillors made several recommendations, that would include a reasonable stipend for councilors, since it has been recognized that councilors do most of the work in the communities as opposed to government ministers who seem to think that the chairman of the councils can be used as their foot stool, they use them and dump them when they try to stand for what they think is right especially when it pertains to the community, ministers on he other hand receives thousands and yet they find all kinds of strategies to increase their earnings, but the poor councilor receives a made $160.00 a month. What a shame, now you people have the guts to come here and call for honesty, transparency, accountability; what happen don’t
it have to start from above?
When Glenford Toussaint made the statements as regards to the practice of good governance, he could not be making those statements in the presence of Gloria Shillingford or this is super hypocrisy to the max. Every council in Dominica is operating with the maximum amount of DLP members appointed by a Minister of Government. If you think I lie, check all the chairpersons of the councils, case in point, Roseau and Canefield. Emulate who Glenford, you could not be referring to Skerrit.
Local Government officials are verrrryyy biased. They knowing of corruption and mishandling of funds in various village councils and yet they do nothing about it.