GLORIA SAMUEL- I.D.
TEAM LEADER
YVETTTE CODRINGTON REYES- I.D. # 809100685
RESEARCHER/ ANALYST CINDY SARAH LAKHRAM I.D. 02741312
RESERACHER/ ANALYST /DESGIN/ EDITOR CARLA MC ENRANE
RESEARCHER
ALLISON WILLIAMS
RESEARCHER
TITLEPAGE
(1) Quotation
(2) Background
(3) Introduction
(4) Literature Review
Quotation:
Local government is the foundation of democracy if it fails, democracy will fail.
Robert W.Flack
This paper is based on a compilation of various consultants report on the functions and legal framework of local government in TT. It is designed around the solution execution approach model of decision-making. Local government has a crucial role to play in creating sustainable communities. It can lead the local community, reflecting and responding to the needs and priorities of local people. It brings together a wide range of services to deliver the outcomes that matter to people locally. And it is democratically accountable to all citizens,
balancing the interests of individuals and groups with those of the wider community.
This paper recognises that local government should be at the heart of our communities in the years ahead. But it also makes clear that this role cannot be taken for granted. Both local and central government will need to change to meet the challenges of the next ten years and to ensure that people will look to their council as a place where things get done.
This paper offers an opportunity to build upon existing partnerships between central and local government, with clearer lines of accountability and responsibility at each level, underpinned by trust and confidence in the other as a partner. It also makes clear the value of a more coherent approach across central Government towards local government, while recognising that different services may need different approaches.It critically looks at the current position of the Local Government system in TT which even though plays an integral role in the development of the local communities, is plagued by a number of inadequacies which have existed for many years . Local government is the part of government that often has the most direct relevance to peoples daily lives and is closest to the people. To many people when you say government they instinctively think of local government rather than central government. It delivers many basic services such as waste management, sanitation, water provision, primary healthcare and local economic development. However the local government today has been highly criticized for its failure to meet the new and increasing demands of the citizensThe objective of this research paper is to first identify these deficiencies, causes and then through rigorous research techniques develop an entirely new model of local government which will facilitate the sustainable development, best practices, adaptable to environmental realities of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other issues that need to be addresses in light of rapid global changes which is impacting of our communities. We argue that the local government could play a crucial role in transforming the comparative advantages into competitive advantages. We have chosen to illustrate how structural changes in the role and functions of local government by the development of an integrated solid waste management program can achieve this. The second part of the project began by looking at the Community Vision outlined in the Strategic Plan of the Siparia, San Fernando, Port-of Spain & Point Fortin Corporation, as well as the objective of the Local Government Ministry one of the main common concepts promoted is the Community Vision, which looks at the creation of a healthy & safe environment. Unfortunately, the nation has been recently plagued with numerous incidents of flooding and unsightly garbage in our Capital city. This poses health issues as well as a financial burden on local governments.
Our objective is to highlight one particular aspect of local government function which is Solid Waste Management and show how changes in Capital and Infrastructural Asset Management, Financial Management, Information and Communication Technology, Human Resource Management, Service Delivery and Environmental Management could lead to the creation of a type of Local Government that facilitates a highly innovative, strong, vibrant , revenue earning system. Let us now look at the concept of local government in the nation as well as its role and functions in terms of its challenges and suggested solutions.
WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?According to the definition by Keith Miller Local government is a sub-national level of government which has jurisdiction over a limited range of state functions with a geographical area which a part of a larger territory. Local government in Trinidad and Tobago is in the form of one regional assembly in Tobago and fourteen local municipalities in Trinidad. Since the beginning of the 90s there has been the trend towards greater devolution and ongoing reform of local to enable it to take on greater powers and responsibilities.Areas of Responsibility Maintenance of all public sector buildings not under the control of other state agencies
Monitoring the execution of works by State Enterprises, Statutory Corporations and Public Sector Agencies, as prescribed
Provision and maintenance of local recreational facilities, etc.
Landscaping and beautification of communities
Establishment and management of Burial Grounds, Crematoria and Cremation sites
Ensuring the distribution of water in areas where there is no pipe borne supply
Provision of community policing
Waste management
Management and control of insect vector and rodents
Provision and management of public markets and abattoirs Promotion and preservation of environmental sanitation Promotion and, in special circumstances, undertaking local, cultural community events and sporting activities
Monitor planning and development activities within the Municipalities
Naming of streets and numbering of houses Disaster preparedness and management
Issuing approvals for applications for full planning permission not requiring a CEC from the EMA for residential and smallbuilding developments and additions of any type ,not exceeding 500 square metres and minor engineering operations as specified by schedule
Our system of Local Government is design around the closed model of organization as stated by Max Weber is supposed to be very efficient and reduces the chance of corruption and mistakes due to is numerous checks and balances. We have a central government at the head which sets our goals and releases funds once they are agreement with the local governments programs. The local authority has the right to speak for the area it is responsible for, eg the Mayor of Port of Spain would only have power in PoS only whereas a Minister has power where ever he goes. Local authorities are controlled generally by political parties which contest elections locally, but the parties are normally local branches of national parties.
Local Government is responsible for many function, however it may differ from country to country. Central govt determines what they want to give Local Government. The local government body is called a council, the political arm is responsible for making policies, the Chief Executive Officer and staff are responsible for implementing and executing policies.
Local Government generally have the right to tax for its operation, the right to tax is critical to the role of local authority. Local knowledge influences the decision processes. The councillors are pivotal to the workings of local government. The scope of the work of the Corporation is determined by the law as well as the number of agencies it has to relate to for its operations, also Local Government is supposed to endure public accountability (Stat. Meeting where the public is invited). They are also accountable to the electorate.
Local Government must adhere to regulations and policies, they must submit reports to the Parliament. It is bounded by law and that means an act of Parliament or the Constitution. Local Govt bodies are supported by an administrative staff according to the Weddicombe report. LG has 3 important attributes.
I. Pluralism power is spread between socially different decision making centres
II. Participation it affords the citizens a unique opportunity to participate in the control of local affairs.
III. Responsiveness - in response to the local needs via the delivery of services
In modern nations, local governments usually have some of the same kind of powers as national governments do. They usually have some power to raise taxes, though these may be limited by central legislation. . The question of Municipal Autonomywhich powers the local government has, or should have, and whyis a key question of public administration and governance. The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries, and even where similar arrangements exist, the terminology often varies. Common names for local government entities include state, province, region, department, county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire and village. However all these names are often used informally in different countries & local government is the legal part of central government.
Local government is a huge service provider education, environmental health, housing, social care and many more, all of which benefit the local community. Local councils either provide services directly to the public or arrange for other organisations to provide them. Most of these services affect the daily lives of local people in a major way. The leisure centre you keep fit in Siparia, the collection of your household rubbish, the school you or your children go to, the care of those who are disadvantaged, the hygiene standards in your local restaurants and shops, the range of reference materials in your local library all of these things are the councils responsibility, plus many more
A Caribbean Perspective The dawn of the 21st century find the small, vulnerable states which comprise the Caribbean Region engaged in a desperate and uphill struggle to overcome the twin monsters of underdevelopment and inherited vestiges of colonialism. As if these were not formidable enough, globalization and associated phenomena threaten to make this struggle even more difficult. Success or failure in this struggle could mean the difference between the emergence of a proud and distinct Caribbean civilization, whose member states enjoy a respected place among the worlds nations, and can provide their citizens with prosperity and all the benefits which modern society has to offer; or on the other hand a disparate group of countries characterized by increasing social instability, a breakdown in the governability of the state, and severe economic hardship.
The existing model of governance/public administration, itself a legacy of the colonial past, has proven to be incapable of meeting the governance and development needs/challenges of post- colonial Caribbean society, or exorcizing the vestiges of colonialism. A new paradigm of governance is therefore imperative and urgent. This new paradigm must place sustainable development and the tenets of good governance as cornerstones for the construction of a strong, viable and prosperous Caribbean Community, blossoming into a distinct civilization.
The new paradigm must facilitate full participation of all citizens, especially traditionally marginalized groups such as women & youth, in the processes of nation-building & governance. Such a participatory framework, along with adequate scope for local self-management, will release the abundant energy, innovative spirit, leadership talents, vibrancy and innate problem- solving capacity which reside in Caribbean people, but which are currently stifled by the existing over-centralized, authoritarian style of governance. In fact, this style has the effect of causing these qualities to manifest themselves in the form of anti-social/deviant attitudes/behaviors which undermine the social order, and which hinder rather than contribute toward local/nation development.
Meaningful decentralization of state power, manifested in the form of strong systems of local governance, is now recognized as key prerequisites for facilitating sustainable development and promoting good governance. It is therefore critical that policy-makers, scholars, practitioners and related stakeholder groups in the region seek to advance their understanding/appreciation of issues relating to local government and decentralization, and forge a regional consensus on how these concepts and principles might be best applied in the Caribbean
The Caribbean is not alone in recognizing that the new paradigm of participatory local governance is critical for improving the quality of governance, and realizing the objectives of sustainable development. Strong local government and decentralization are essential to this paradigm Most countries around the world are therefore presently engaged in some initiative towards decentralizing the state and enhancing local government. For example, Five hundred and fifty (550) representatives from forty-eight (48) countries met in Freeport, Grand Bahama, 11-14 May 2009 on the occasion of the fifth Commonwealth Local Government Conference and General Meeting of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, CLGF, hosted by the Government of the Bahamas. They agreed as follows:
REAFFIRMING the Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth Principles for Local Democracy and Good Governance, welcomed by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2005 and 2007 as part of the Commonwealths fundamental political principles, reinforced by the Auckland Accord, and the implementation of these instruments by CLGF and its member organisations; NOTING that the conference has been held for the first time in the Caribbean, which reflects the regions growing commitment to strengthening and reforming local government; ACKNOWLEDGING that improving local government to better represent communities and enhance service delivery is an essential component of the Commonwealth vision of local government that is an enabling body, that can act as a community leader and is empowered to forge alliances and partnerships with other organisations to maximise resources in the interests of local development for all; RECOGNISING the challenges of the current global economic situation and the impact on local communities and the operations of local government; AGREEING the Freeport Declaration will build on and strengthen the outcomes of Aberdeen and Auckland and look towards to achieving the common vision of improving local government across the Commonwealth.
The local government improvement agenda
1 Local government needs to be reshaped and repositioned in systems of government to overcome capacity constraints and be confident to adopt its genuine role as part of government. Building on the Aberdeen Agenda and Auckland Accord, local government should have as a core objective continuous improvement of the quality of services and governance it provides to the local community.
2 There is no single model for improved local government that will fit all situations: improvement must fit the purpose within different local contexts.
The Trinidad and Tobago Perspective
WHERE ARE WE TODAY?
In Trinidad and Tobago our Local Government faces several challenges as we seek to achieve sustained/sustainable development and good governance, out of which they hope will flow economic prosperity, social and political stability/cohesiveness, and preservation/enhancement of the cultural identity of our people. Challenges include overcoming colonial vestiges and coping with phenomena such as globalization and the information/technology revolution; whereby citizens are demanding value for money in an effective and efficient manner. The existing model of governance/public administration needs substantial overhaul to be capable of coping with these challenges. Decentralization, in the form of participatory local governance, offers many advantages which fit the profile of the new model of governance required for the nation. Nonetheless, there are potential disadvantages associated with that style of governance, which need to be safeguarded against. While advocating for decentralization/participatory local governance as the model of choice for this country, the feasibility of model in the smaller states must be given consideration to be non-viable. Nor is it essential in order to embrace the principles of decentralized, .It must be accepted that some Caribbean states will find an orthodox, full fledged local government system participatory governance. The critical factor is that the principles of decentralization, local self- management and citizen participation be woven into the fabric of governance, in a manner compatible with the particular circumstances of each territory. The minimum requirements for there to be a system of governance which reflects the ideals promoted in this Paper are the following:
1. There must be a clear division of state functions/responsibilities into those to be administered at the national as against the local level; such division to be determined by applying the principle of subsidiary.2. Autonomous Local Government should exist to manage affairs designated as local. These bodies can take the form of full-fledged professional Authorities, such as Parish, Municipal or regional Councils/ Corporations, or of voluntary District, Village or Town Councils.
3. The political leadership of Local Authorities, whether these are professional or voluntary, should be fully elected by the people on whose behalf they exercise authority, otherwise there will be no local control.
4. Local Authorities must have full control over all resources required for proper discharge of their mandate.
5. The system of participatory local governance should be properly clothed in an appropriate legal framework and incorporated into the constitutional arrangements of the state, to safeguard against arbitrary actions.
By the use of questionnaires, structured interviews with both burgesses and employees of the Siparia Region, San Fernando City and the Port of Spain Corporation. The Sampling procedure used was a stratified random sample technique. We divided the population into quotas and gave out questionnaires and interviewed to randomly selected incumbents.
ResponsibiltiesCustomer Statisfaction (1-5)Obstacles To achieving tasks
Street management2Unable to employ a cadre of streets cleaners who will work continuously through the day
Maintenance and management of
of street markets ,2Lack of funding to provide proper infrastructure
slaughterhouses, 1Lack of funding to provide proper infrastructure
common and recreation grounds3Employees sometimes neglect grounds that are in the rural areas , sometimes there is an unclear understanding of the jurisdiction of the corp
Social Welfare2Lack of funding, mismanagement of funds
Health2Lack of qualified staff each Corporation should have a medical officer and registered nurse
Community development and culture3Sometimes there is a difficulty In obtaining
extra funding for these programs.
Infrastructure and public utilities2There is a more reactive approach to dealing with matter of public utilities and infrastructure sometimes the allocation for dev. Program arent spent on the targetted area. There is also mass allegations of corruption in this area.
Solid waste management1Lack of resources to cope the increase in the amounts of waste generated on a daily basis.
The use of secondary research techniques were also utilized such as report such as the white paper , the government manifesto. The 2011 Trinidad and Tobagos budget. The results of the findings were divided into groups or quotas according to the responses to certain questions in order to ascertain a general perspective of local government. From this we were able to ascertain that the population was unhappy with the performance of the current local government system . One aspect of its function that was chosen was that of Waste management. Diagram (1)THE FOLLOWING IS A TABLE SUMMARIZING THE INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE SURVEY THAT WAS CARRIED OUT
Identification of The Critical Issues Affecting The Local Government System In Trinidad and Tobago.
The problem affecting our local government system can be divided into two parts (A) THE CENTRAL / MAIN PROBLEM: (B) THE SATELLITE PROBLEMS Current Assessment of the Local Government System
Our investigations revealed that there are quite a number of issues negatively affecting the Local Government system which is an indication that there is a major underlying problem that exist. The Current Status of the Local Government System in T&T
The central problemToday's model of Local Government System has been designed around the vestiges of colonialism. It is a system characterized as a stable, bureaucratic, rigid, closed organization structure. The formidable pressures of globalization, modernization and technological advancement has now left our stable local government system incapable of meeting the needs of our well informed citizens. Such issues if left unchanged could lead to a number of satellite problems that are existed today. The Challenges
The Westminster model of governance/public administration in which authoritarianism, excessive concentration of power at the center. The inability of the state to provide basic social services, amenities and quality of life which citizens regard as acceptable. Globalization which threatens the traditional social/ economic foundations of the current local government system. The technological /information revolution which creates dizzying rates of changes and a more assertive and knowledgeable citizenry. Concerns about corruption, lack of accountability and transparency and questionable ethics in local government have created demands for much higher standards of conduct in the management of public affairs. Limited resources with which to address completing claims for social services, national security, debt servicing and developmental needs.Satellite Problems:
Too much reliance on government funding:Sometimes the overall objective off the government may not be best suited for local government to release funds for special projects that may be necessary for the development of the locality. Poor representation by council members: At times the council may seek only the interest of a certain sect of the community and not all the citizens. Sometimes council members are not trained in the public sector management and as such increases the tendency for mismanagement. Lack of infrastructural assets: Most rural communities are very under developed. Because the municipalities are not self sufficient and the government expenditure far exceeds their revenue, it is often seen as a burden on the central government. Many of the markets, play ground etc, especially in rural districts are neglected. Highly bureaucratic decision- making: Even though local government is accountable and responsible of and number of tasks within their jurisdiction there are unable to make decision freely as it must be approved by central government (cabinet) which usually takes a long time. The Staffing process: This is done by the SASC and service commission, and very often the local authorities recruit the daily rated staff. Staff is promoted and placed based on a seniority basis. Very often the qualified staff are not placed in the right job at the right time. Hence the reason why there is often the problem of performance deficiency amongst staff and poor customer service. Communication gap: There is no direct communication between the central government cabinet and the Trinidad municipal corporations. Poor quality of service provided to the burgesses in road works, face to face contact when complaints are being at the Corporations. Poor management of finance : Too much funds are spent on entertainment. Local government is also not allowed to raise funds independently and or obtain loans . Local government is not allowed to retain any of their revenue earned it must be remitted to central government. Party Politics:Very often the areas that support the opposing party are faced with little are no allocations and development programs. Lack of authority to the municipal police to be able to perform their duties in the various communities:From the assessment of the problems affecting the local government system there is definitely the need for a mechanism to facilitate the reconciliation between citizens demands, available resources and various elements of the society. Sanitary and environmental challenges
These challenges include littering, unauthorized dumping of bulk material in public conduits resulting in flooding and water quality degradation. The creation of breeding places for mosquitoes and rodents. Limited recycling of wastes such as metals, tires, plastic, obsolete computers. The lack of landfill site within the boundaries of the corporation.
While these challenges may be many and may seem daunting, team innovators are confident that the proposed solutions can be part of a pragmatic turnaround strategy , and recommend the following:
Understanding and addressing root causes of problems faced by municipalities.
Making local government everyone business.
Promoting good citizenship that is underpinned by governance values such as ethical behaviour, transparency and accountability of public office, loyalty to the Municipal Corporation Act 1990, volunteerism and community service amongst others.
Building ward-based systems and developing effective and efficient and accountable municipalities throughout the country.
Laying a differential framework for each municipality to identify and adopt its own improvement strategies and actions.
The strategies should among other issues, address the following:
Strengthening political accountability to citizens while building inclusive communities that are partners in their own development and destiny.
Review the legislative and regulatory framework of local government.
Strengthening financial management and accountability.
Rooting out corruption in all forms.
Ensuring an appropriate role for traditional leaders in local government.
Identifying and addressing areas of dysfunctional amongst municipalities, through improved managerial practices and relevant quality training and education.
New Values
During turbulent times of change its important to have strong values to guide employees behavior.
New Goal
To ensure sustainability by continuous improvement in the delivery of service, through the effective management of capital and infrastructural assets, financial and human and technological resources. Diagram (2) Having a New Shared Value To Help with Change Managment
Proposed Solutions Municipal Management: Establish standardized procurement and inventory management systems. Monitor capital and infrastructural asset by implementing modern asset management systems. Complying with accounting policies and procedures
Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing capital and other expenditures. Conducting public audits and cost reviews. Developing and implementing systems to integrate and support the activities of the Municipalities and the Ministry of Local Government.
Develop necessary databases and reporting systems to support the mission and mandate. Improving the administrative, technical and managerial skills to increase and enhance the productivity levels of employees. Social Services: Address the social aspect of sustainable communities to allay tension between groups based on race, politics, gender, income disparity. Develop a vibrant municipal community policing service with Ministry of National Security. Economic development: Facilitate the preparation of local area and regional development plans. By working with the local contractors thereby increasing employment and utilizing resources. Also facilitate commercially viable options in tourism waste management and agriculture and improve market access for local products and services.
Creation of resilient communities It is important to note that this can only come by the devolution of authority and resources within national policy guidelines from central government ministries such as community development, housing social welfare, sports planning, environment etc.The Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme
Introduction to the Plan
A Theoretical Perspective
Waste generation increases with population expansion and economic development. Improperly managed solid waste poses a risk to human health and the environment. Uncontrolled dumping and improper waste handling causes a variety of problems, including
contaminating water, attracting insects and rodents, and increasing flooding due to blocked drainage canals or gullies. In addition, it may result in safety hazards from fires or explosions. Improper waste management also increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contribute to climate change. Planning for and implementing a comprehensive program for waste collection, transport, and disposalalong with activities to prevent or recycle wastecan eliminate these problems.
Waste means we are not getting all we can out of our economic and natural resources. When we waste we:
rob ourselves of resources
use up landfills quickly
increase methane gas emissions
contribute to climate change
Waste prevention and diversion programs like composting and recycling let us get the most out of our resources and protect our environment. When we reduce waste we put resources back into the economy, make landfills last longer, save energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Literature Review
Illustrative examples of ISWM like experiences around the World
The problem of managing solid waste has started many decades ago. Human activities create waste and it is the way these wastes are handled, stored, collected and disposed of, which can post risks to the environment and to public health (Zurbrugg 2002: 1). Waste can be a resource if only we could learn how to manage it properly, but since the 1960s the problem of disposing of our mixed waste has reached crisis proportions (Ancheta 2004:308). The affluent lifestyle brought about by modernization and development aggravates the problem of waste management. The rise of mega-cities2 in the 1990s has also contributed to the growing problems of waste.
Given limited technology and resources, developing countries are more severely affected by waste management problems compared to developed countries which have the privilege of employing advanced technologies. Inefficient waste collection and the lack of disposal facilities are a common problem in developing countries. Even though solid waste management has been the object of many studies and policies in the past decades, still up to the present time these solid waste management problems have continued to be a burden in many cities and municipalities especially in developing countries.
Several plans for integrated waste management initiatives have been taken up around the world.For example, Nova Scotia leads Canada in solid waste resource management. In 1995, Nova Scotia created a Solid Waste Resource Management Strategy. Five years later, as a result of this strategy, Nova Scotia was the first province in Canada to cut in half the amount of waste they send to landfills. Nova Scotia continues to be recognized as a national and international leader in waste diversion with a disposal rate that is almost 50% lower than the Canadian average.According to Genuine Progress Index (GPI) Atlantic, Nova Scotias waste management strategy creates benefits worth at least $31 million a year. These include
new businesses
new jobs
longer-lasting landfills
energy and resource savings
less air pollution including greenhouse gases
The proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) is a comprehensive waste prevention, recycling, composting, and disposal program. An effective ISWM system considers how to prevent, recycle, and manage solid waste in ways that most effectively protect human health and the environment. ISWM involves evaluating local needs and conditions, and then selecting and combining the most appropriate waste management activities for those conditions. Hence the reason why we believe that the ISWM should be decentralized and planned and executed under the municipal corporations.
The major ISWM activities are waste prevention, recycling and composting, and combustion and disposal in properly designed, constructed, and managed. Each of these activities requires careful planning, financing, collection, and transport, all of which are discussed in this and the other fact sheets. The main tenet of the proposed model is to turn our waste materials into a resource. Local government role in this program is to plan, implement and execute an entirely new program of waste management. It is design to encourage a thinking that is beyond the use of mere landfills. The "integrated solid waste management" (ISWM) concept was established to expand existing solid waste management initiatives. Problem Identification Why the need for the programme?The existing solid waste systems in Trinidad and Tobago do not adequately fulfill the need for the provision of environmentally sound management of the nations wastes. We live on a small island with limited land mass and, therefore, cannot continue to abuse our environment indefinitely without suffering the adverse consequences. It is, therefore, imperative that we urgently seek to establish creative and cost effective systems to meet the countrys waste management needs.
Trinidad and Tobago has one of the most diversified and industrialized economies in the English-speaking Caribbean primarily as a result of the countrys reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The availability of relatively cheap energy has contributed to the development of heavy industries such as iron and steel, cement, methanol, LNG, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, specialty chemicals and petrochemicals. Trinidad and Tobago also has a wide variety of small scale manufacturing industries which include wood preserving and wood products, textiles, leather/tanning, printing, plastics, PVC, chlorine, sulphuric acid, battery manufacturing, metal fabrication, electrical machinery and components, metal fabrication and shipbuilding/repair. There are nineteen (19) industrial estates in the country, with Point Lisas being the largest comprising eighty-five (85) tenants.
The heavy economic reliance on the petrochemical, industrial and manufacturing sectors as well as wastes generated by the countrys three (3) major hospitals, twenty (20) private clinics and forty (40) medical laboratories, vehicles, the agricultural sector and domestic activities, results in the production of a large amount of hazardous waste. In this regard we feel that the Basel Convention, will be invaluable for providing technical and financial assistance to developing systems to manage and dispose of the hazardous waste which we ourselves generate in an environmentally sound and cost effective manner.
This is extremely important to us since despite the fact that Trinidad and Tobago generates a large amount of potentially hazardous waste; the options for waste disposal are limited with no dedicated hazardous waste landfill or disposal facility on the island. Wetlands in Caroni have been similarly affected by the development of Point Lisas Industrial Estate. Portions of the Caroni and South Oropouche Swamps have been used for land filling of solid waste.
Diagram # 3
The indiscriminate and excessive application of agro-chemicals to agricultural lands has impacted unfavourably upon wetland ecosystems at Caroni, Nariva and Oropouche. Organic waste from poultry and livestock farms is also washed into wetlands via rivers and drains.
The unplanned and unregulated use of land for industrial purposes has also resulted in the discharge of harmful effluent including heavy metals and other toxic waste into wetlands. Oil spilled onto land or leaked from defective pipelines drains into the South Oropouche Swamp via the South Oropouche River. Silt from wash plants associated with quarry operations has been proven to affect plant and animal life at Fishing Pond and Caroni Swamps.
With respect to domestic sources of pollution, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants installed to service residential developments in Trinidad and Tobago have discharged inadequately treated sewage into drainage channels which flow into wetlands at Caroni and Bon Accord. Household solid waste disposed into watercourses is also transported into wetlands to the detriment of their ecosystem. From the diagram above showing the map of Trinidad and Tobago one cannot help but the geographical distance between rural communities and the various landfills. Landfills in our country today are a total mess and do not possess the capacity to hold the increasingly large volumes of waste that are generated on a daily basis. According to statistics from the SolisdWaste Management Company Limited approximately one thousand tonne of waste is brought to the landfill site at the Beetham estate by both private contractors and municipal corporations. The location of the Guanpo landfill is of great environmental and health concern as its location is ideal for run of into the Gunapo rivers and by a large other main water courses. It has also been identified that the Solid Waste Management Company Limited is proven to be incapable to deal with the growing amount of waste.Our so-called landfills sites are an open dump this is a hazard because of its potential for producing leachate, becoming a rodent and insect breeding ground, and its general health dangers. Our landfills that do not comply to sanitary standards and should be closed, the image many people have of waste management is the image of the open dump.
This is one misperception of waste management as it relates to landfills that encourages a groundswell of opposition whenever a landfill is to be sited.Today's technically engineered; sanitary landfills are a distant relative of the open dumps of the past. Modem sanitary landfills are designed to protect the environment by containing and isolating waste. Current landfills require extensive planning, engineering, monitoring and supervision both by law and public demand.
The sites for landfills are carefully selected based on studies done by engineers and hydrogeologists. Sites are selected both for their hydro-physical and their geographic characteristics. Some of the features that the engineers examine are depth of natural clay liner, depth of bedrock, level of groundwater, aquifer system if any, and watershed. Landfills in Ohio are required to have a heavy plastic liner or impermeable "membrane." The liner covers the natural clay or imported clay liner of a site which is ideally located over a bed rock. The goal of contemporary sanitary landfills is to safely contain and isolate wasteIt is also important to note that the rapid changes or rather increases in the volume and types of solid and hazardous waste as a result of continuous economic growth, urbanization and industrialization in our once rural area such as Point Fortin , is becoming a major problem for our national and local governments to ensure effective and sustainable management of waste yet our waste management program at the local level hasnt changeThere is also a heightened awareness by the government to be more vigilant in eradicating littering on the streets and the recycling of waste materials. Lets us now look the Proposed Strategic Plan for the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme (ISWMP).Diagram (4) The Need For the Program Can be Summarized By the Following Diagram
METHODOLGYIn order to get data for this paper the following research methods employed were the method was the use questionnaires as well as structured interviews with both burgesses and employees of the Siparia Region, San Fernando City and the Port of Spain Corporation. The Sampling procedure used was a stratified random sample technique. The population size was one hundred.
We divided the population into quotas and gave out questionnaires to randomly selected incumbents. These questionnaires were used to assess the performance of the municipal corporations in the area of solid waste management, and availability of committed and qualified workforce. At the same time we ran a quick interview asking questions pertain to the current waste management systems as well as suggested ways for improvement. It was also noted that without the commitment of the Corporations human resources, the organization will never be able to achieve its objectives. For this reason staff was also ask to answer a few questions as it relates to motivation and their perception of working within local government.
It was a bit difficult to get expert knowledge about Solid Waste Management hence the use a secondary data was very valuable in this aspect. The analysis of secondary research was use for information pertaining to modern trends in waste management in our nation taking from SWMCOL. The analysis of waste management models used Nova Scotia, Canada and internationally .
FINDINGS OF THE STUDYThe incumbents that were interviewed and completed questions were asked questions based on the current solid waste management strategy. It was aimed ascertaining whether or not the community understood the concept of intergrated solid waste management and why is it so important. The level of local government involvement was also assessed. The types of waste that collected and the volumes that were being collected was also of crucial importance to the development of a new program. This data was collected throught the secondary data collection method. Purpose
To prevent the incidence of flooding in the waterways due to the clogging of drains by bulky waste.
To prevent the unsightly and unauthorized dumping of bulky waste in the roadside.Objective To collect items made from plastic e.g plastic bottles and cups. To collect unauthorized bulk materials such as derelict vehicles, tyres, discarded household items and obsolete computers.
Action
Numerous complaints were made by customers regarding the unsightly bulk waste deposited at the Corporation's roadway.
Complaints were recorded by Complaints Clerk and forwarded to the Public Health Inspector.
The Public Health Inspector conveyed a meeting with Sanitation Overseers, who were required to investigate the matter.
Sanitation Overseers were required to conduct a site visit of the periphery of the Community.
Sanitation Overseers submitted a report to the Public Health Inspector.
At the Public Health Committee Meeting the report was addressed by Council Members.
Emanating out of the report, Council Members conveyed town meetings with their constituency since it was a problem in communities, the resident viewpoint were necessary, their ideas were pertinent and the matter needed to be addressed. The community were educated by the Public Health Inspector of the importance of the proper separation of plastic materials from other household items. Further, the residents were requested to report any unsightly derelict vehicles, tyres etc. as well as to notify the corporation whenever the need arise to dispose of bulk waste. Residents were informed: That the Corporation should be contacted via telephone or informal visits made to the Corporations whenever the need arise to dispose of bulk waste. That a fee of one thousand dollars will be fined for careless and unauthorized dumping of bulk waste.
Local governments main responsibilities in managing community waste will be to :
arrange for waste to be collected regularly from households
store, recycle, or dispose of waste properly.
Other roles will include educating and informing their community of ways they can help manage waste. The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" reduce, reuse and recycle, which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The 3 Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance
Regional plans - sharing the costs
Corporations in smaller communities can improve the quality of their waste management services, and cut their costs, by developing waste plans with nearby councils. A regional waste plan could allow councils to share staff, equipment, and facilities. For example, two or more councils couldwork together to:
run one vehicle to collect rubbish in all their communities
hire one driver or team to handle the collection
set up a single recycling centre
set up a single centre for handlingdangerous goods.
A regional waste plan can also help deal with waste problems along a council boundary, such as the mosquito creek in south Trinidad or other rivers.Waste collection
In larger regional centres, local governments can contract commercial operators to collect household waste. For small communities, it can be difficult to interest commercial operators in providing a regular collection service. In Corporations that provides the local waste collection service, the following points can help make it efficient.
Weekly household waste collection
Provide each household with a standard size bin.
Have waste collected on the same day each week.
Let households know what types of waste should be, and should not be, placed in their bins. (Perhaps place stickers on the bins.)
Ensure that the vehicle collecting the bins is the right design. Can binsbe safely lifted and emptied? Is the collected wastesecure so it will not fall off as the vehicle moves?
Ensure that the people collecting the waste have the right training. Do they know safe ways to lift and empty bins? Do they know what to do if they finddangerous goodsin household waste?
Check that the councilrubbish tipis designed to make unloading the collected waste safe.
A council levy can be placed on each household to help pay for the collection service.
Special collections (community clean-ups)
Special collections help households get rid of larger items or dangerous goods rather than let them rot or rust in yards, pollute the land or harm the community. Special collections can be done at intervals throughout the year. Advise households well in advance of the date for these special collections and the types of waste being collected.
Local Government could tie these collections in with a special event, such asClean Up daycampaign. A clean-up could also be held the week before a sporting or cultural gathering hosted by your community. This will have many positive effects, including increasing the sense of pride the community has in its town and impressing the visitors!
Waste disposal (council rubbish tips)
Every council must provide a safe, secure location where collected rubbish can be dumped, and where community members can take extra household rubbish. Before Local Government build, open or run a tip, we must be trained and knowledgeable about the laws. These laws aim to protect the environment (the land, water, air and other things) from pollution and contamination.
Important: To run a council tip, we may need an environmental licence from the Environmental Protection Agency from central government. This licence lists the things the council must do to make sure its tip doesnt pollute the environment.
Contaminated land (including rubbish tips)
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, local governments must identify and managecontaminated landin their areas. Councils must also notify the Environmental Protection Agency about that land.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, operating a council rubbish tip is classed as a Notifiable Activity. The land where a tip is located is Contaminated Land. Council must NOWregister the location of a rubbish tip with the Environmental Protection Agency.
After our council registers land with the EPA as Contaminated Land, the Council must maintain a record of this land (for land-use planning and decisions on development applications). Community members who want information about land recorded on the EMR or CLR should be asked to contact the EPA.
Litter
There are laws against littering, and councils can fine offenders. However, the best long-term strategy for beating a littering problem is community education, especially with anti-litter programs for school children.
Litter creates hazards. Broken bottles and tins, for example, can injure people. Dengue mosquitoes breed in water trapped in bottles.
People are more likely to drop litter in places that already have litter lying around. As well ascommunity awareness campaignson litter, councils can reduce litter by providing permanent or temporary bins in places such as: outside community stores
at sporting fields
at cultural and special events
in parks and other family gathering areas
The bins should prevent animals or birds scavenging in the rubbish, and keep out rain and wind.
Asbestos
Councils that own houses in their communities are responsible for repairs and maintenance of the buildings. Councils need to be aware of what is required when repairing or demolishing a house that contains asbestos.
Asbestos can create serious health problems if the fibres come loose from sheeting and are breathed in. Asbestos is most likely to be found in the roofing or walls of buildings built before the late 1980s. Demolishing or repairing buildings that contain asbestos should only be done by suitably trained and licensedprofessionals. These contractors must now hold a licence to work with asbestos. You might also find asbestos in an old rubbish tip or it could be brought into the community in second-hand building material. The state governmentsWorkplace Health and Safetywebsite has important information on:
what laws apply
whatasbestos is and where it is found
how to identify asbestos
health risks
working with asbestos.
.
Contractors' rubbish
When hiring a building contractor to work on a project in the community, the council should demand that the contractor removes all rubbish after the project is completed.
To ensure this is done, the council could get a cash bond from the contractor, or withhold final payment until the site is inspected by the EMA or other officer and declared 'clean'. These conditions should be clearly written into the contract so that the contractor knows what is expected. A building contract should also state that the rubbish is to be disposed of legally at a proper waste or recycling facility or even taken back to where the contractors come from. This will increase the life of the council tip.
Removing building rubbish is especially important for island communities where land area is limited.
Suppliers' rubbish
When ordering material or equipment from suppliers, the council should require the supplier to minimise packaging. Where possible, council should require that the supplier take back the packaging for recycling or disposal. This will also increase the life ofthe counciltip.
One may ask how is local government going to be funded in this new waste management venture? And there lies the on-going dilemmas of local government finance; Grant versus Tax; and Property versus Income tax.
Thinking from first principles, we suggest that firstly the government would have to approve a change in the constitution1. The power to spend should be equated with the duty to tax (at least at the margin).
2. The less mobile a factor of production, the more suitable a subject it is for local taxation.
To illustrate the principle , lets first imagine a square country, Ruritania, divided into four square local government areas, imaginatively called Ruritania NW, Ruritania NE, Ruritania SW, and Ruritania SE. The population is evenly spread across the country; furthermore, so is wealth and income. The people, companies, and properties in each of the four local government districts contain the identical mix of rich and poor. Fiscal federalism in Ruritania is easy. The national government is responsible for defence, overseas aid, macroeconomic management, and foreign relations, which account for 20% of public expenditure. It levies tax on corporations domiciled in Ruritania, which yields 20% of tax revenue, and exactly covers its liabilities. The four local authorities deliver health, personal social services, social protection, transport, housing, fire, police, environmental protection, trading standards, and waste management. (Oh, and coastal protection too did I mention that Ruritania is an island and each local authority has an equal share of its coastline?). The local authority functions cost 80% of public expenditure, which is exactly covered by their taxes (the main ones being income tax, property tax, and VAT). In Ruritania, the power to spend is exactly equated with the duty to tax. Each taxing authority has the power to raise taxes (and spending), or to cut spending (and taxes), according to its citizens preferences. Northwest could build a doomed shaped theatre much like Nappa and Northeast a network of parks. Both of them would have to raise local taxes to pay for them. Southwest could close its loss-making municipal museum and Southeast could start charging for rubbish to be cleared. Both of them could reduce local taxes. Everybody would know who was responsible for which batch of services, and whom to blame if things went wrong. Hence the importance of devolution. Trinidad is not like Ruritania. Local authorities differ hugely in wealth, population, area, and physical characteristics. The central government, which does pay for 75%, attaches strings to its grant, while saying that it is strongly in favour of (new) localism. To combat this there is an extensive equalisation programme, which attempts to equalise both for councils unequal tax base and for the relative needs of their citizens. So long as wealth and income are unevenly spread, (i.e., presumably, for ever), there will always be an equalisation programme. Therefore for (at least) this reason, it will never be exactly true that each local authoritys tax yield equals its spending responsibilities. You cant match taxing power and spending power exactly. The next best thing is to try to match them at the margin. This means that if the authority decides to spend a dollar extra, it must raise a dollar extra in tax; and if it decides to spend a dollar less, it has a mound available to give back to local taxpayers. In theory it should be possible for the centre to give each authority a block grant, while the marginal decisions are up to the authority
TimeframeThe expected timeframe for this new to be new model to be on stream will be approximately in four to six months time. In the short term there is the need to sensitize the public about proper bulk disposal by the use of advertisement, and town meetings which allow opportunities for suggestion to be put forward. However this process is actually an on-going one. Moreover, there will be a consistent assessment of performance and then if necessary a re-evaluation of the implemented program.Effectiveness
Progress can be measured by litter Wardens and Sanitation Overseers who are given the responsibility of overseeing the particular areas that they have been assigned. On completion, they are required to submit a progress report to the Chief Executive Officer and the Public Health Inspector.Critical Success FactorsManagement:
Chief Executive Officer
Public Health Inspector
Staff and Authority: Council Members
Sanitation Overseer
Complaints Clerk
Residents
Secretariat
Resources Used: Human Resources, Training In Safety and Environmental Law
Pens Paper Computer Hand bills
Once managed properly, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities. Only a system that possesses openness to the environmental factors, an empowered government working in its full capacity, empowered and mobilized citizens which posses the characteristic of social cohesiveness, flexibility, resilience, and dynamism, will be able to successfully withstand these threats and be able to grasp the opportunities. Such a prospective also requires a transition to a more participatory mode by management such an approach. insist that process is an important as the outcome. That what a new model of local government achieves is informed and influenced by how we proceed.
In concrete terms it means that the human resources at the municipal level is not just the employees but the residents of the municipalities, the ultimate stakeholder or customers.If we accept that the residents or customers are the owners, then clearly they must be provided with real opportunity to inform the decision making process and set the framework for perspectives on productivity.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Miller, K. (2002) A presentation to the Caribbean Conference on Local Government and Decentralization Ministry of Local Government, 2008. A Green Paper on Local Government Reform. Cornelius Price, Decentralization Coordinator, Ministry of Local Government. Local Government Reform: Roles & Responsibilities of Local Government Bodies.
Home BusinessNeed to protect T&Ts wetlands
In October this year, Housing and Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal announced that at the end of the year, the Government intends to pass the Beverage Container Bill. Thousands of our Cleaning Up The Mess fans on our facebook page, and citizens were relieved. It would mean an end to dumping some 50 million plastic bottles a month in our dumps. But its the end of the year and we are anxious for action. Apart from legislation, it is the absence of data on the level of our pollution, especially from our industrial estates, that is worrying. There can be no checks and balances without transparency. This week we present to you the second in a three-part series on Cleaning Up The Mess by Trini Eco Warriors, (TEW) a vibrant environmental NGO. In thisprepared second guest column one of the warriors, Stephen Broadbridge, a wildlife writesphotographer, film producer, and owner of Caribbean Discovery Tours exclusively for Guardian Medias Cleaning Up The Mess series on why you should care.
Published: Fri, 2010-12-31 18:45Stephen Broadbridge
A few months ago we (Kyle De Lima, Marc de Verteuil and Stephen Broadbridge) formed an environmental facebook group called Trini Eco Warriors for the purpose of highlighting concerns we three had about wrongs being committed against our valuable flora and fauna. Within a very short time, we had assembled more than 5,000 facebook friends and noticed very active discussion. T&OneT seems to be becoming far more conscious of the natural environment. can see this from the frequency of articles appearing in the media, even though some seem to be as filthy with littering. But what is this concern about? Why is it important to all of us to care for our environment? How does it actually effect us if we were to just destroy everything? T&Ts flora and fauna are presentlstrain. Every dry season, we watch blazing forests,y under tremendous with no attempt to catch or prosecute the arsonists. Then the rainy season comes and we wonder why our streets are flooded and our properties are damaged. It is known that forested mountains retain water. Removing forest causes faster run-off and siltation, resulting in massive flooding, damaging homes, businesses and agriculture. Every negative action we take will eventually lead to a negative reaction though not always as obviously apparent as the flooding we experience every rainy season. Trinidads wetlands, notably Nariva and Caroni swamps, provide refuge for many endangered creatures and provide us with recreation and food while protecting our coastline from erosion and pollution.
They have an economic value by attracting thousands of tourists and providing nurseries to many of our commercially caught fish, shrimp, oysters and lobsters. Despite all these benefits, very little resources are allocated to protect our wetlands. Caroni Swamp is as large as 40 square miles, yet there is only one small game warden boat to police this area and it has been without an engine for some years now.Large companies drain their polluting chemicals into rivers flowing into this precious mangrove ECO system. Sections of Nariva Swamp are regularly burnt and on the western side large areas of forest were cleared and drained in the 80s to make way for large rice plantations. The forested peninsula that juts out into Narivas flood plains is regularly hunted, even though it is a RAMSA site and is supposed to be accessed only by people with permits issued by the wildlife department. More wildlife officers need to be employed. There are just not enough. Poachers often move undetected and illegal fishermen burn pieces of the forest so they might have clear patches to fish. In the process, much wildlife is burnt to death and habitat destroyed. It is important to note that many medicines in the pharmacy originated in their natural form from nature.
Much important research has been done in Nariva, most recently the Tungara frogs (physalaemus pustulosus) bubble nest was found to be an excellent anti-bacteria that would not cause damage to cell tissue as present day medicine does. It may turn out to be an important new burn medicine.It is certain that as research continues many more important medicines will be discovered. That is of course if we have not destroyed everything first. As the water flows from our rivers through the swamps, it enters our oceans. T&Ts marine environment yields much food and employment for our people. It is the most frequented for recreation, yet oil companies and industrial estates at the EMAs admission, appear to be largely self regulated. In the absence of data, this means that the population is not fully informed of the pollution created by these industries. While we are not pointing fingers, it is clear that more transparency and checks and balances are required regarding their activities which directly impact on the environment. Fish catches are unregulated and all marine turtles, even though endangered are hunted legally in the hunting season and illegally out of hunting season. I have never understood how we have a hunting season for an endangered species in the first place.
It is important to note that turtles eat jellyfish. Jellyfish eat fish. Less turtles mean more jellyfish. More jellyfish means less fish in the sea. The more obvious financial benefit of turtle would be seen in tourism. Any hotel near a healthy turtle nesting beach is likely to be full most weekends of the nesting season. In Matura, in particular, Nature Seekers hotel is packed with researchers and foreign students who spend US dollars on food, tours, transport, airfare, accommodation, souvenirs and taxes. Grande Riviere hotels enjoy similarly high room occupancy. Turtles are simply worth more alive than dead. Its time we completely outlaw the unsustainable practice of hunting our marine turtles. Trinidad and Tobago are two small islands. There are limits on what we have. We need to be a lot more careful in managing our natural resources and realise that our natural environment is important to the quality of our lives. We must not allow either industry or individuals to destroy our country like thieves in the night.
This Sunday on Cleaning up the Mess, on CNC3 at 10.30 am and 6 pm our Ira Mathur and our Multi Media Cleaning Up The Mess crew bring you interviews and images from the Beetham dump and interviews with UWI lecturers Dr Dr Judith Gobin, Marine Biologist.Azad Mohammed, Eco-toxicologist, and andSend in your photos and comments to [email protected] join our facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/cleaningupthemess?ref=ts
CERTIFICATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Semester I 2010/11
Lecturer: Dr. Manfred Jantzen
Making each locality within our nation a healthy, happy, safe place to live, work and invest
Team Members
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
Diagram 1 Showing the main determinants in the decision-making process at the Municipal Corp.
GOVERNMENTS VISON Social and economic policy framework
CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGIC PLAN
Customer delivery plans
THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION STRATEGIC PLAN- This plan is spelled out into the budget which gives the budget division at the ministry of finance the information which shows how the Accounting Officers of intend to earn revenue as well as the finance that is required for us to achieve our goals and delivery plans.
Local Government & Its Challenges
The New Role of Local Government in Waste Management
The Financial Aspect
A Proposal on How the Programme Should be Funded
CONCULSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
