Local Government & Community Month 2012 culminated on a high note with the staging of the Local Government Awards (for Local Authorities) on Friday, November 30, 2012.

The approximately one hundred and thirty (130) persons in attendance witnessed the handing out of awards in seven (7) categories.

The Kingston & St Andrew Corporation received the award for Improvement in Property Tax Collections, St Thomas Parish Council got the award for Enhancing Own Source Revenue, St Elizabeth Parish Council for Efforts at Improving the Welfare of the Poor, while the Westmoreland Parish Council copped two awards, one for efforts geared at Engaging Citizens’ Participation in the Affairs of Local Government and other which they shared with the Manchester Parish Council, for Implementation of Core Local Government Reform Initiatives.

Mayor of Savana-la-mar Councillor Bertel Moore attributes his council’s success at the awards function to good leadership and team work.

“I have thirteen (13) councillors that work with me, in whatever we are doing we work as a team and I have a Secretary/Manager who is next to none she is one of the best you can fine in Jamaica right now”, He said.

Meanwhile, the Minister’s awards presented to stakeholders (individual or organization) for partnership in the reform efforts of the Ministry, was presented to Food for the Poor and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Mrs Rhonda Lumsden-Lue General Manager Human Resource Management, MIS and Communications at JSIF, said she was very pleased to be accepting the award on behalf of her organization.  “When we told the staff they were extremely elated, and our managers and directors are very proud” she said. “It is good to know that the work that we are doing is being recognized”, she added.

The staging of the awards function which started in 2009 as a way of recognizing those Local Authorities that have performed creditably in respective areas of the Local Government Reform Programme, took place on the picturesque Laughing Water property located just outside of Ocho Rios in St, Ann. The setting provided the ideal atmosphere to meet the secondary objective of the function which was is to build rapport among members of the various councils and staff of the Ministry.