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Patterson PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson has denied there is to be an amalgamation of the St. James and Trelawny Parish Councils on April 1.
In a press release which his office said was in response to a letter from Helene Davis-Whyte, general secretary of the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO), in which she said that members of her union had heard of the amalgamation "through the grapevine" and asked for his intervention, Mr. Patterson said the reports were "inaccurate and misleading".
He said St. James and Trelawny would be moving towards, "a Memorandum of Understanding for sharing certain services". These services would include enhancement of revenues from property tax and commercial and engineering services for parish infrastructure development, he said.
"It is fully appreciated that amalgamation could not take place without dialogue and the requisite parliamentary approval," the release said Mr. Patterson wrote Mrs. Davis-Whyte.
The Gleaner reported on Friday, March 8, that the Parish Councils of St. James and Trelawny would be amalgamated on April 1 as part of the Local Government Reform programme. This was based on the following answers to The Gleaner to questions faxed to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development on March 7.
(1) Are the St. James and Trelawny Parish Councils to be twinned?
Answer: St. James and Trelawny are to be amalgamated as part of the regionalisation process.
(2) If yes, when?
A: Implementation is to begin April 1, 2002. As such, discussions are ongoing with the Local Authorities.
(3) Are other Parish Councils to follow suit?
A: Yes, there'll be phased amalgamations along the lines of the amalgamation of Kingston & St. Andrew in 1923.
(4) If yes, does that mean that twinning has replaced plans for regionalisation?
A: No. Amalgamation is the first phase of regionalisation.
