Local government reform in progress –Hon. Gloria Shillingford

The Local Government Department of the Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs is celebrating local government month during the month of May.

The theme for this year’s observance is, “Consolidating our gains, building stronger communities.”

Minister for Social Services Hon. Gloria Shillingford delivered an address to mark the start of the month long celebrations.

She said, “Institutionalized local government system has been in Dominica for one hundred and twenty-five years. We are indeed proud of this milestone, thus enabling us this year to focus on consolidating these gains and building further on what we are doing in order to have communities that are stronger, more self reliant and responsible for their own development.  We can boast of the many local authorities that exist at the community level providing leadership and direction for the implementation of community projects in their respective communities.”

The minister says Government will continue to take actions geared at enhancing the local government system.

“The Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs through the department of local government have been working consistently to enhance the local government system in Dominica.  You may be aware of the efforts towards local government reform; to create an environment more conducive for growth in this sector.  The reform is geared at improving the legislative framework of the local government system to ensure that it is modernized and relevant to the times and that service delivery is much more effective.”