The Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister in what the Union describes as yet another example of the Ministry of Local Government's non-observance of the Government's "guiding principles" of transparency, openness and inclusivity, as espoused by the Prime Minister himself.

The Union, by letter dated March 6, 2002 over the signature of General Secretary Mrs. Helene Davis-Whyte brought to the Prime Minister's attention that workers in various Parish Councils have been informed through the grapevine that effective April 1, 2002 a process of "twinning" of Councils will be implemented.

JALGO however questioned how such a programme is to be implemented while at the same time, Parliament is debating a Green Paper on regionalization of Councils. The Union further questioned how the government can allow the Minister of Local Government to constantly trample on the rights of staff and to show total disregard for the citizens, the parliamentary process and civil society groupings.

JALGO also noted that stakeholder consultation was a key ingredient for the success of any programme aimed at achieving greater efficiency and advised that the lack of consultation had resulted in an atmosphere of uncertainty among members of staff of Councils, which was adversely affecting service delivery.

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MARCH 7, 2002