Jamaica 

Introduction

Jamaica is an island in the western Caribbean with a population of 2,780,132 and covering an area of 10,991sq km. .

There are 14 local government authorities in Jamacia. The last local government elections were in December 2007.

Summary

The National Advisory Council (NAC) on local government reform was re-established in 2004 to review existing reports and develop new recommendations for moving the reform process forward.

Subsequent to national consultations with various stakeholders and interest groups the NAC report was the subject of review by the Joint Select Committee on Local Government Reform in Aprl 2007. The new government has placed an emphasis on local government reform and accelerating implemeting the recommendations onwhich there was consensus.

The decentralisation process has been significantly accelerated from January 2008 and local government will through this process be accorded the requisite constitutional status, institutional capacity, financial autonomy and self-sufficiency.

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