Presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Liguanea Local Government Reform and the Trafalgar Division

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Presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Liguanea

Local Government Reform and the Trafalgar Division

November 20th, 2007

Julian J. Robinson

Councillor Candidate

Trafalgar Division

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Local Government Reform Process – Historical Context

•Reform process started a long time ago

•Numerous studies and white papers on the issue

•National Advisory Council on Local Government Reform

•Ministry Paper #8/93 outlined the policy framework and established objectives of the reform

•Restoration of functions and responsibilities•New financing arrangements•Upgrade institutional capacity•Revision of legislation•Upgrade quality and cost efficiency of municipal services•Distribution of services responsibilities between Central and Local Government

•Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Local Government Reform

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Local Government Reform Process – Achievements

•Greater Financial Autonomy• Reduction in dependence on Central Government revenues from 90% to 40% as of 2003/4•Creation of the Parochial Revenue Fund to finance maintenance of roads and drains

•Legal Reforms – over 20 new Acts amended and promulgated to:•Give more autonomy to Councils•Enhance revenue generation•Provide for major urban centres to obtain municipal status•Provide for direct election of Mayors•Provide for legal status for citizens advisory councils

•Institutional Strengthening•Upgrading of organisational structure and staff•Extensive staff development and training•Establish parity between Central and Local government positions•Computerisation of several of the activities of the Councils

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Local Government Reform Process – Achievements

•Services Upgrading•Improvements in enforcement of civic order•Reduction in time to approve building applications•Improvements in the cleaning and maintenance of drains and roads•Assumption of a lead role by Councils in preparing Local Sustainable Plans for their jurisdictions

•Enabling Participation•Establishment of the National Advisory Council, Parish Development Committees and Community Development Committees•Public education – broadcasting proceedings of Council meetings on local cable television•Adopting a participatory approach to the budget process by presenting draft budgets to citizens to get their feedback

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Local Government Reform Process – Recommendations

•Entrenchment of Local Government in the Constitution•Provides basis for a modern legal framework reflecting the new paradigm of participatory governance, local self-management, accountability and transparency

•New Local Government Act•To clearly define the responsibilities of local government vis-à-vis central government

•Service Delivery – essential municipal services to include•Markets and Arcades•Parks•Solid Waste Management•Municipal Enforcement•Development Approvals

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Local Government Reform Process – Recommendations

•Official recognition of the Parish Development Committees (PDCs); Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Divisional Councils

•PDCs would be advisory in nature and draw members from a cross section of community and parish based organisations•Each Local Authority would establish a PAC to ensure accountability as it relates to the finances of the Authority•Divisional Councils would be used to facilitate local citizen involvement in decision making and to make recommendations on local needs

•Independent Financial Base•Provision for adequate capital budgets to fund infrastructure development•Provision to raise own funding through taxation of debt financing

•Direct Election of Mayors•Proposed for each Council to achieve this within 3 years

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Local Government Reform Process – Recommendations

•Recall of Mayors and Councillors and Performance Evaluation System•Recall only under certain and very specific circumstances•System to facilitate objective non partisan assessment

•Minimum Standards for Servicing the Division, Community and Citizens•Each councillor to make a minimum of two planned visits to every community in the Division per year. A planned visit is one where residents are informed in advance•Each councillor to host at least two fora per year with community, youth and sports club representatives •Each councillor to conduct a minimum of two visits per year to all state and state supported institutions servicing the public eg: schools, hospital, clinics, post offices, police stations•Each councillor to prepare an Annual Report on representational issues addressed or not, expenditure and other relevant issues of interest to residents

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South East St. Andrew and the Trafalgar Division

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Constituency Map South East St. Andrew is a mid-size constituency with a disproportionately large number of national institutions

• Up Park Camp

• Police Mobile Reserve

• National Stadium Complex

• Bustamante Children’s Hospital

• New Kingston – Main Business District

• Little Theatre

• PNP and JLP headquarters

16,361 electors

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Trafalgar Division Map

6,389 electors

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Vision & Objectives

VISION

• The People’s National Party vision for 2030 is to attain developed country status. By so doing, Jamaica would be the place of choice to raise families, live, work and do business

• Vision for the constituency has broad stakeholder support

• Housing, education, security and job creation will be priorities

OBJECTIVES

• To provide safe, peaceful communities where residents can move about freely

• To significantly upgrade the sporting facilities within the constituency

• To continue to work with the business sector particularly in Half-Way-Tree, Cross Roads and New Kingston to provide job opportunities for residents

• To protect the environment through proper garbage disposal and clean gullies

Maxine Henry-Wilson and her team of councillors are committed to the development of South East St. Andrew over the next 5 years

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Achievements – Constituency

Significant advances have been made over the last five years

• Refurbished 11 basic schools in collaboration with CHASE

• Initiated Summer Reading Camps – attended by over 1,000 children

• Provided some $1.5 million for tertiary education fee support

• Provided book grants totaling $1 million/ year

• Provided Housing repair assistance for over 500 persons

• 21 indigent persons received wooded housing units under Social Housing Assistance Programme

• Hosted 13 Constituency Youth Fairs, encouraging young persons to acquire a skill or otherwise develop themselves

• Provided $200,000/ year to 16 sports clubs

• Active participation in Peace Management Initiative and other community interventions

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Future Plans – Constituency

Many South East St. Andrew residents benefit from national health care programmes such as free healthcare for children and the National Health Fund

• Major expansion of several high schools in the constituency

• Continued upgrading of the early childhood schools in the Constituency

• Increase enrollment in vocational training programmes such as HEART

• Expand role of National Youth Service in constituency

• Lobby NHT to provide incentives for residents to improve their own homes

• Expand Lift-Up Jamaica programme to remove zinc fences throughout the constituency

• Revive neighbourhood watch programmes

• Upgrading sporting facilities in McGregor Gardens, Grafton and Nannyville

• Establish new mini parks within the constituency to expand green space and provide more play areas for children

• Continue to work with SDC to promote Community development Councils (CDC’s) to help strengthen the governance structures within the communities

• Enforce the Noise Abatement Act to address pollution

• Address commercialization of residential areas

• Continue to Lobby KSAC and NEPA to ensure enforcement of building and zoning regulations in residential areas

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Achievements – Trafalgar Division

The Inner City Housing Development in Monaltrie represents a model for the rest of the Constituency

• Built 48 Units at Monaltrie under the Inner City Housing Programme

• HEART provided skills training for housing beneficiaries

• Provided housing repair assistance for over 500 persons

• 21 indigent persons received wooded housing units under Social Housing Assistance Programme

• Repaired 11 basic schools and expanded several high schools in Reconstruction of sections of Mico gully

• Built sanitary facilities in Woodford Park & Swallowfield

• Removal of zinc fences in Swallowfield, Price Lane and Devon Avenues

• Constructed Children’s play area in Swallowfield

• Established Youth Information Centre at Caenwood

• Lobbied the Sports Development Foundation to build multipurpose courts on Arthur Wint Drive

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Future Plans – Trafalgar Division Significant advances have been made over the last five years • Employment creation and skills training

• Target young persons to be enrolled in HEART and other training programs

• Encourage businesses within the Division to employ persons who live in the area

• Construction of housing units in Swallowfield under Inner City Housing Programme

• Improve infrastructure to support increased housing stock

• Inner City Housing Programme under review by JLP administration

• Development of a football field in Swallowfield

• Continue to participate in Peace Management Initiative to develop Community Council in Woodford Park

• Establishment of a community centre for Woodford Park

• Work with Edna Manley College to tap into cultural industries and create jobs in cultural heritage sector

• Reduce and ultimately eliminate the unauthorised commercialisation of residential communities

• Work with the Police to reduce night noise and prostitution

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Biography

JAMPRO – Manager – Investment Promotion (2001-2004)

Scient – London Office – eBusiness Consultant (2000-2001)

IBM Consulting Group – London Office- Consultant (1996-1999)

Director - HEART Trust/ NTA 2001-2007

Director - Kingston & Montego Bay Freezones & Factories Corporation of Jamaica (2001-1007)

Director - Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation (2001-2002)

Director - INSPORT (1993-1994)

MBA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign (1996)

Manchester Business School International Exchange Program (October 1995-March 1996)

BSc. in Management Studies (Hons) from the University of The West Indies (Kingston, Jamaica) in 1993

Graduate of Campion College

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCEPOLITICAL EXPERIENCE Deputy General Secretary of the People’s National Party (2003 - Present)

Executive Committee and National Executive Council – People’s National Party (2001 - Present)

Chairman – PNP UK (2001 – 2)

Vice President – Guild of Undergraduates – UWI – (1992 -3)

Julian Robinson has achieved success in many areas of endeavour and is committed to translating that success to public life

Phone: (876) 816-8335

Email: [email protected]

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