Legislation is coming to provide constitutional protection for local government, says line minister Dr Suruj Rambachan. He said that while delivering an address at the launch of the policy document on local government transformation and modernisation at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday.
"Local government does not have constitutional protection at this time," said Rambachan. He said that, among 15 other measures outlined, would result in more productive and people-centred delivery from municipal corporations. Rambachan said his ministry had recognised global trends in decentralised governance when developing the policy.
He said the policy would improve delivery by improving issues within local government, such as financing. He added: "The issues of methods of financing local government and the adequacy of such methods have been the most contentious matters in local government in relation to its viability as an autonomous, democratic governmental entity."
He said one of the central issues was the absence of an objective, fair and transparent formula or mechanism to ensure the equitable distribution of nationally earned revenue between central and local government. Rambachan said that should take into consideration, inter alia, population size and density, social and infrastructural needs, service-delivery responsibilities and development planning requirements.
"Such a formula will curtail if not eliminate the recurring claim of partisan bias or discrimination in funding, ostensibly by the local government bodies which are controlled by a political party or parties that differ from those at the centre," he added. He said what was needed was a predictable, reliable and identifiable source of funding with a broadened local revenue base.
Rambachan said the current administration was committed to addressing that funding issue, which would be explored and elaborated under the policy. He said municipal corporations already were becoming more efficient. "I am advised that the 14 corporations submitted a total of 769 projects and I am further advised that almost all of these projects will be completed by the end of March 2013," Rambachan said.