By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration has not indicated it will fulfil its pre-election promise to introduce local government to New Providence.

In the Blueprint for Change, the Progressive Liberal Party’s pre-election manifesto, the party committed to creating a local government regime in New Providence, but the administration has said little about it since winning the 2021 general election.

In 2022, Works and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said the government hired consultants to redraft the Local Government Act to give more power to Family Island councils, including greater ability to raise revenue.

Mr Sweeting helped launch national Local Government Month yesterday during a flag-raising ceremony and proclamation reading.

Asked about local government in New Providence, he said: “We have to ensure that local governments has the proper structure and that the mandate is carried properly to ensure that local governance is properly constructed before it’s enacted in New Providence.”

“There were some challenges, and there will continue to be some. This new act that was passed in December, enacted in December, would help to alleviate a lot of that. So we’ll see how all that plays out, but local government plays an instrumental role in Family Islands and how it’s constructed, the role of administrators, the role of local councils.”

Throughout Local Government Month, local council administrators nationwide will hold activities and small projects.

Mr Sweeting highlighted the Local Government Act 2024, enacted in December, which decentralises some processes traditionally managed by local government.

“Local government stands as a cornerstone of our democracy,” he said. “It amplifies the voices of our communities, and most of all, it champions their causes. So by decentralising authority, we’ve created a system where active civic engagement, where citizens and these family islands could really play a vital role in shaping the decisions that directly impact their lives.”

“The contributions of local councils are far-reaching. They oversee critical services such as public health, sanitation, infrastructure, maintenance, while driving initiatives that stimulate economic growth to create job opportunities and enhance the quality of life in Family Island communities.”

“Projects such as bus stops, boat ramps and fishing communities, playgrounds, recreational ground upkeep and public bathroom facilities demonstrate the invaluable work of local councils in addressing community needs.”