|
|
|
 |
|
|
Official launching of Local Governance National Policy
By Gov Of Belize Press Office
Posted: Oct 16, 2009 00:26 UTC
|
BELMOPAN - An official launching ceremony for the National Policy of Local Governance in Belize was held this morning at the grounds of the National Association of Village Councils (NAVCO) headquarters in the City of Belmopan.
In his keynote address, Hon. Gabriel Martinez, Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development outlined that the Policy aims to reaffirm Government’s commitment to the people of Belize to decentralize governance through a defined local governance system, to reaffirm and respect the current Municipal and Village Governance Systems and lay out policy guidelines for improvements and to provide for greater legal security to the systems including the Alcalde System of governance in Belize.
Minister Martinez also mentioned that Government acknowledges the weakness in the existing system but the formulation of the policy will now establish clear policy guidelines. “While the existing system is clearly identifiable and has evolved to have some sound laws… the consultations and analyses conducted by the Ministry identified areas of concern that require urgent attention and accepts that addressing these concerns in a comprehensive and strategic way requires national policy guidelines and decisions from the Government.”
Director of Local Government, Mr. Eugene Palacio mentioned that seventeen recommendations based on an initial symposium conducted last November formulated the one presented today. Consultations were done; thereafter, over a ten month period at the municipal and village level across the country. On August 25th, 2009 Cabinet approved the National Policy presented today and complete implementation is expected by the end of next year.
Contributing remarks were also offered by Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Michael Hutchinson, Assistant Country Representative for the United Nations Development Programme in Belize, Ms. Kristine Blokhus, Vice President, Belize Mayor’s Association, His Worship Mayor Simeon Lopez and Presidents of both NAVCO and the Toledo Alcalde Association.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You may bookmark this web page, print it or e-mail it to
a friend in accordance with the fair-use provisions of
copyright laws. The material is intended solely for the use
of the individual user.
Archiving, redistribution, or republication of this
material
on other terms, in any medium, requires the express
written permission of the author or publication and the
notification of the editors of Caribseek News. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
