Thanks to the Local Government Commissioner and his staff for offering me the opportunity to deliver some remarks at this special occasion during the observance of the 30th Anniversary of Local Government Month and the Department’s Long Service Award Ceremony.
Dominica has a unique model of Local Government, one based on the marriage of Local Development Administration and Community Development. This model traces its origin to the 1930s when the first town and village boards were established to foster the good government and development of their communities. Then in 1974 the responsibilities for community development was transferred from the Social Development Division to the Local Government Division and the establishment of the Department of Local Government and Community Development was born. This year, therefore, also marks the 45th anniversary of the Department.
This community focused approach to national development which enabled local councils to work in concert with other community based groups for the social and economic development of the communities, had four key objectives:
- To help improve living conditions in local communities;
- To empower communities to identify and pursue the improvements they need;
- To build quality leadership and self-reliance;
- To train community members in new marketable skills.
Embedded in these objectives was the recognition that development is essentially the improvement of people’s lives and equipping them with the capability to have a positive effect on their communities.
This approach to development inspired our neighbouring countries in the region and many of them sent delegations in the 1980s and 90s to observe and learn from the work being done here.
