According to the Minister responsible for Constituency Empowerment Hon. Ambrose George, the establishment of constituency offices in communities across the island has met its objectives.
The minister made the comment during an Insight programme with Mervin Paul.
He says every aspect of his ministry speaks to empowerment and as a result of that, constituency empowerment offices were created.
“We have established twenty-one offices within twenty-one constituencies which are manned by a secretary, who is employed full time to oversee the management of those offices. The secretary who is responsible for the office is not only required to manage the day to day affairs but is charged with the task to really co-operate and communicate with the constituents… Every constituency office does have its own day, which is on a Thursday when the parliamentary Representative is present to meet with the constituents on various issues and to really see how we can deal with and to see how best we can empower the citizenry of the various constituencies.”
The Minister explained further that as part of Government’s Outreach Programme, Constituency Offices were also formed to cut the expenses of residents who in the past would travel to and from their communities to Roseau. Elderly people who were also in need could no longer connect with their Parliamentary Representatives. And so Constituency Day was established to allow the Parliamentary Representative an opportunity to interact with constituents.
“It was something that was much needed. In fact, there were a few of us Parliamentary Representatives who, on our own had those offices established and that was at the cost of the parliamentary representative. Bringing this initiative forward which was really the brainchild of the Prime Minister and we have to [commend] him for that, has in itself really created a tremendous impact both in terms of [allowing] the parliamentary representative access to the constituents as well as the constituents being able to meet with the Parliamentary representative in an office. Previously it was probably by the roadside, in his/her vehicle, by a bar or after church. Now that those offices have been established and strategically located I think it has empowered the people because now they have that greater access to the Parliamentary representative.”
So far the responses from the constituencies regarding the offices have been positive.
For the past three to four years the Roosevelt Skerrit led Administration through the Ministry of Constituency Empowerment has ensured that community based projects are undertaken to assist with the issue of unemployment that has been a major concern in many communities.
Hon. Ambrose George says, “The department of Constituency Empowerment is directly responsible for the implementation of what we refer to as community based projects. These are small projects which are normally undertaken by a community development committee or the parliamentary representative may seek funding to assist in the implementation of those projects. Sums of money have been made available to my ministry from the Ministry of Finance and projects have been identified in association with the constituents. There are varying types of projects which include, small road projects, public conveniences either built or renovated. We’ve had a youth center for example in Kingshill which was constructed under that program…even housing assistance sometimes finds its way into that program so that aspect of community based projects has been having a positive impact on the constituency. In fact, what we have established is that those projects should be undertaken by persons within the constituency. In other words if a contractor is required to undertake the project, then that contractor must come from the area. The work [must also] be [executed] by the constituents themselves. We also empower Village Councils. Monies are given to them to undertake some of the community based projects so really and truly the intention is to empower the people, to create some short term employment and to let that money circulate within the various communities and constituencies.”