The Editor, Sir:

If one agrees that an effective and efficient local government is highly necessary for economic development, the same can be applied to the parish councils and the municipality of Portmore. However, this cannot be implemented without strong leadership of those who lead the councils, our mayors.

The leadership skills that the St. Catherine Parish Council needs in the way forward for local government reform and implementation is as follows:

Leadership is a complex process by which a person influences others to accomplish a mission, task, or objective and directs the organisation in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.

A person carries out this process by applying his or her leadership attributes (belief, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills) the position as a mayor gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organisation, this power does not make you a leader ... it simply makes you the boss.

Leadership makes people want to achieve high goals and objectives, while, on the other hand, bosses tell people to accomplish a task or objective.

Unfortunately, over the last four years, the people of Spanish Town have not experienced this type of leadership at the mayoral level.

Hopefully, the next mayor will be chosen carefully to carry out the mandate of Spanish Town in an effective and efficient way.

I am, etc.,

Dr. CHARLES

DEMONAQUE,

Stafford University

c/o 101 Weybrige Road

Addlestone Road, Surrey

United Kingdom

KT152QS