CLGF launched a new regional programme in the Caribbean at the 2016 Caribbean regional meeting on 21-23 March in Port of Spain. The meeting was hosted in collaboration with CALGA, the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government and TTALGA. The two-day meeting was part of CLGF’s EU-funded work in the region to strengthen the role of local government as a partner in development and discussed issues faced by local authorities in the region while recognising the role of local government in implementing the SDGs and strengthening policy for their localisation at the national level.

The discussion highlighted the need for local government to focused, realistic and mindful for local needs in its work to achieve the SDGs. The recommendations from the regional meeting highlighted the key role of local government in ensuring people-centered sustainable development and welcomed the SDGs as a framework for delivering global and national priorities at the local level. While many existing local government responsibilities will contribute directly to achieving the SDGs, a number of key challenges facing local government in playing its full role in development were highlighted, such as access to resources, the need for adequate funding, local autonomy, enabling legislation to empower local government, increased engagement with the local community in decision making, better coordinated advocacy by local government and national associations of local government to promote their role in development as well as the need for stronger and more meaningful partnerships between local, regional and central government.

The need for local government to respond creatively to the lack of resources in the sector and working in partnership to deliver more with less was highlighted. It was suggested that local governments build in an economic development component into their local strategic planning by facilitating necessary strategic and local partnerships such as with the private sector and community organisations, to support local economic development in their communities and ensure a strong enabling environment for development.

Participants emphasised that ICT can be used as a tool to enable local government to achieve its objectives and has the capacity to accelerate the achievement of its development goals. Affordable access and last mile connectivity were highlighted as major challenges, as was the lack of reliable knowledge and understanding within the sector on what technology is appropriate to help local government reach its goals. The role of innovative ICT programmes such Microsoft CityNext was highlighted in effective service delivery and facilitating better community engagement.

The regional event brought together key representatives from local and central government from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago in addition to other private sector partners. The Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Trinidad and Tobago, Hon Franklin Khan delivered the keynote address. CLGF’s Vice Chairperson Cllr Philip McPhee from Bahamas and Deputy-Secretary General, Lucy Slack participated in the regional launch and opened a small regional office for the Caribbean, which is co-located with the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA).
 

Find out more about the local government system in Trinidad and Tobago - country profile