Councils in the spotlight

September will mark six months since the 2012 local government elections. Since those elections, do you know what your mayor/parish council has achieved?

Desmond Gilmore, St Ann Parish Council

1. Major Labour Day clean-up of the parish capital (St Ann's Bay) with the support and participation of youth groups, government agencies and private organisations (The scope of the work included clearing of debris, bushing, cleaning of drains, painting of pedestrian signs and sidewalks etc), followed by a maintenance programme to ensure the town doesn't return to its former state.

2. Council retreat - all councillors and heads of department participated in a weekend retreat where a development plan for the parish was formulated.

3. Town hall meetings for each constituency - workshop sessions where residents are given the opportunity to meet with their elected representatives (MPs and councillors), donor agencies and other government agencies, to identify projects, which can be implemented outside of government assistance.

4. Partnered with the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Library Service to organise and host the 125th birthday celebration for Marcus Mosiah Garvey, where there was also the launch of the civics curriculum in schools for the September term 2012.

5. Initiated the Marcus Garvey Scholarship for Excellence - scholarship in the sum of $250,000 awarded to a student who was a top performer in the Grade Six Achievement Test, placed at Marcus Garvey Technical High School.

6. Spearheading and working with other agencies to convert the Windsor Girls' Home building into a half-way house to alleviate the overcrowding of hospital wards. This will cater to street and mentally challenged persons.

Mayor's Assessment

Gilmore declined to assess himself, noting that it was up to the public to do so.