The Social Development Committee (SDC) is the principle
agency responsible for building and strengthening civil society organizations’ to
participate in national development processes. It works with 84 communities within Jamaica at
4 governance levels: Parish Development Committee (PDC) is a network of
organizations, which coordinates and monitors local development processes at
the parish/jurisdictional level. Development Area Committees (DAC) represents a
cluster of communities called development areas, made up of stakeholders such
as private sector, non-profit organizations and key government agencies. Community Development Committee (CDC) is a
body that determines and pursues common interests’ specific to a community, and
provides the voice for supporting citizens’ participation in local governance. Community Based Organizations (CBO) are
voluntary groups within a community/district such as youth groups, citizen
associations, environmental or health-related groups that represent a special
interest or segment in a community.
The Local Government Reform Act has become a national initiative
that is guiding SDC’s mandate to developing strong functional communities and
their involvement in decision-making, citizens’ concerns and overall governance
practices. The issue is that after more
than 17 years, the Local Government Reform is still under review, requiring
further consultations before it could even be tabled in Parliament and considered
as legislation. The significance of the
Act is to formally declare Parishes in Jamaica as Municipal Corporations, who would
deliver specific local services and follow regulatory requirements, in addition
to maintaining good governance, sustainable local development and maintenance
of civic order within their respective jurisdictions. Provisions would be made to confer legal
recognition on Community Based Organizations to become local authorities and be
responsible for preparing Local Sustainable Development Plans and
promoting/facilitating physical, social and economic development within their
local areas. For example, currently CDCs
cannot open a bank account because committees cannot register for a Tax Return
Number (i.e. unique identification number assigned to individual taxpayer,
business or organization needed to perform any transactions with institutions
such as banks, schools, government agencies) and so it is very difficult to
raise any capital without being formally registered. Since CDCs can’t register as a committee,
people must volunteer on an individual basis, and so pursuing collective development
interests within a community is limited and frustrating.
This description provides the main features of the Local
Governance Reform Act, and is the basis for the series of consultations taking
place across the 13 Parishes (i.e. districts in Canadian terms), in which the
discussion has shifted to promoting the need for social entrepreneurship, and national
integrity that draws away from corruption, towards strengthening governance
practices. As part of my strategic
planning work for how AIR can provide expertise and capitalize on the
partnerships, I had the privilege of taking part in two of the sessions, in
Manchester (town of Mandeville) and St. James (Montego Bay city) parishes. In this blog, I wanted to showcase some of
the great work that is coming from Jamaican citizens who have taken it upon themselves to push for change! From my participation and the discussions that transpired, it was clear that communities have had enough and are taking action on their own terms. This is being done through public advocacy and the signing of a petition to speed up the process of formalizing CDCs, and pushing Parliament to table the Local Government Reform Act!
It was evident that necessity and struggle has
driven Jamaicans to become natural entrepreneurs and if Jamaica is to ever
change its fate, it is through structured and accountable community development
and social entrepreneurship initiatives. The Rastafari Indigenous Village (www.rastavillage.com) located in Montego
Bay is one of those examples. Community
persons developed a partnership to acquire a land, and received support to
promote a cultural village in Jamaica that nurtures Rastafarian
perspectives. Individuals can stay at
the cultural village and be part of the creative industry, which includes a
history of Rastafarians heritage and the struggles of the culture in Jamaica,
as well as a taste for music and food, among other Jamaican experiences.
SDC has been provided with the permission to act on pushing
the Local Governance Reform Act, and the communities have decided that they
won’t wait anymore - Time is Now!!
