Local Government and Local Development: Bridging the Gap through Critical Discourse: Evidence from the Commonwealth Caribbean

Schoburgh, Eris D.

doi:10.5130/cjlg.v0i10.2686

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In the past local councilors were tied to their local context and the skills there are less likely to transfer when dealing in a global context. Schoburg [11] supports this position. She argues that most local government authority in Jamaica are hampered by an organizational framework built on values that are no longer compatible with contemporary leadership and management technologies or development norms.…”

Section: Political Economy and Urban Agglomerationmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…She argues that most local government authority in Jamaica are hampered by an organizational framework built on values that are no longer compatible with contemporary leadership and management technologies or development norms. Furthermore, the operations of local government in the Caribbean and in Jamaica specifically, lack a culture of high performance ( [11], p. 19).…”

Section: Political Economy and Urban Agglomerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Urban Agglomeration and the Geo-Political Status of the Municipality of Portmore, Jamaica

Archer¹,

Jackson²

2022

Sustainable Development Dimensions and Urban Agglomeration

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This chapter will attempt to shed light on the relevant explanations for designating or creating urban agglomeration for the purpose of administration and governance in the case of largest urban space in Jamaica. The main objective of this chapter is to provide an in-depth look at the case of Portmore with specific emphasis on the socio-economic, political, legislative, and relevant policy arrangements that influence the change in sub-national geo-political status from municipality to parish. The researchers explore the literature on local government reform, public financing, urban economics, and urban planning which provided a basis for objectively interrogating the proposed change. From the analysis of existing legislations, policies, and international conventions such as the New Urban Agenda, the proposal to change the geo-political designation of the Municipality of Portmore raises several questions about the economic profile of the area and the capacity to enjoy the benefits of urban agglomeration given its location attributes. Understanding the evolution of the theoretical discourse in urban planning can provide clarity on the relevance of this geo-political designation, the intergovernmental relationship associated with the geo-political designation, particularly as it relates to autonomy, and the allocation of resources for the provision of local government services. This understanding will help to direct the decision makers as to the best designation for Portmore given its current realities and importance of implementing measures to support decentralization and autonomy at the local level for major urban areas. The researchers found that the economic viability of the proposition is at best questionable as the economic base of the municipality is limited and its capacity to generate linkages demand serious considerations. Attention should be given to local government reform in the face of emerging trends and current realities rather than changing status of an urban areas which is the direct result of the principles of urban agglomeration.

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Section: Political Economy and Urban Agglomerationmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Political Economy and Urban Agglomerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Agglomeration and the Geo-Political Status of the Municipality of Portmore, Jamaica

Archer¹,

Jackson²

2022

Sustainable Development Dimensions and Urban Agglomeration

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“…While this could be achieved through a convergence around local development as an outcome of reform, Schoburgh's work on Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica reveals that there might also be a divergence in the approach to achieving local development. In such cases, she argues in favour of a cohesive model in addressing development (Schoburgh 2012).…”

Section: Removal Of Institutional Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through decentralisation and the role of local governments: a systematic review

Guha

Chakrabarti

2019

CJLG

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This paper is about the role of local democracy and governance to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Increased reliance on locally generated revenue, difficulties in managing networks of actors with diverse goals and objectives, imperfect flow of information, and trust deficit in stakeholders pose major challenges to achieving SDGs locally. By doing a systematic review of the recent literature on decentralisation with examples from different local governments, the paper outlines ways in which these challenges could be addressed. The paper also highlights the need for enhancing local leadership capabilities and demarcation of responsibilities among local politicians and bureaucrats, a point missed in the SDG agenda.

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“…For instance, notwithstanding that PDCs are democratic organizations and on this basis fulfil an elemental principle of sustainable local (economic) development, a democratic ethos in and of itself does not guarantee the organizational endowments required to perform developmental tasks. Organizations set up to oversee development have certain capacities and capabilities (see e.g., Blakely & Bradshaw, 2002; Schoburgh, 2012) two sources of which are the ability to produce policy-relevant information and to identify and articulate policy issues or problems, set development goals/alternatives and targets and measure progress. The PDCs are clearly not yet at this level of functioning.…”

Section: Summary Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Is a Self-help Orientation Sufficient Basis for Local [Economic] Development?

Schoburgh

2017

Journal of Human Values

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Local government reform in Jamaica aims (i) to refocus local authorities to providing leadership and a coordinating framework for the collective efforts of the people towards local development and (ii) to assess local service distribution modalities between central and local governments, the private sector and CSOs for more cost-effective arrangements. The institutional context in which these objectives are to be pursued is characterized by a new local governance framework populated by ‘a federated system of development committees’. Development committees are expected to work in partnership with local authorities in pursuit of economic transformation of geographic spaces. Participatory development that development committees exemplify conjures up images of ownership of local [economic] development projects and an empowered citizenry that has the capacity to direct resources in their favour. Development committees represent a differentiated method of local economic governance. But the concern is: Are development committees fit for purpose? This is the fundamental question with which this research is concerned. A survey of parish development committees (PDCs) was conducted to determine the extent to which the organizations are giving effect to their mandate. The study is exploratory in design and relies on qualitative methodologies. The results of the study will be important for assisting the local governance reform process currently underway in Jamaica but should contribute to the discourse on the alternative approaches to managing development in developing countries.

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Local Government and Local Development: Bridging the Gap through Critical Discourse: Evidence from the Commonwealth Caribbean

Abstract: Local development, whether construed broadly as community development or more narrowly as local as economic development (LED) is not always associated with local government but rather is the purview of a central government department or agency in

Cited by 8 publications

References 21 publications

Urban Agglomeration and the Geo-Political Status of the Municipality of Portmore, Jamaica

Urban Agglomeration and the Geo-Political Status of the Municipality of Portmore, Jamaica

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through decentralisation and the role of local governments: a systematic review

Is a Self-help Orientation Sufficient Basis for Local [Economic] Development?

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