The German Foundation for Developing Countries and the Universities of the West Indies, Guyana and Amsterdam also provided substantial support for the seminar®. Guyana^ Jamaica9 St« Kitts~Nevis~Ang.uilla9 Sie Lucia*, St0 Vineent9 Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago « The delegates who were nominated by the respective governments p a r t i c i p a t e d in the deliberations of the seminar in t h e i r individual capacities«. ants in s at appendix 1». 150 In some of the t e r i to r i e s , there were provisions on the composition of the functional committees of the local authorities9.
17. The Seminar also noted that in the wake of the implementation of community development programs, ad hoc associations and. Academic support from the universities of Guyana and the West Indies was available to these institutions for this purpose. The Government of Sto Lucia's Human Resources Development White Paper stated that "local authorities <= currently executors of traditional municipal and maintenance functions - will have to participate in the process themselves.
33« The seminar considered the validity of local government in the context of the small size of most of the Caribbean areas and was of the opinion that the accompanying good local government mobilization would improve the quality of local resources for development opportunities for education. in p o l i t i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y9 and. 45o The necessary steps to be taken by the central government in the devolution of more r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for development functions to local authorities were considered* The Seminar was of the opinion that unless purposeful steps were taken by the central government to encourage. 53° Tbe Seminar felt that members and secretaries of the local government service commissions should be oriented in modern.
548 A close examination of the organizational structure of local government units and the formulation of suitable models was also recommended.
FINANCE AND CREDIT
52o The seminar also proposed arrangements for the exchange of v i s i t s for hot c o u n c i l l o r s and staff between d i f f e r e n t Caribbean t e r i - toriesq Study tours to other areas that would also promote a broad perspective of u l perspective. of administration• The system, of 'twinning® between councils in the Caribbean. 57® From the point of view of the local authorities9 the seminar considered the ideal local tax system as one which would be selected by the local authorities themselves 9 who would also be given basis and amount. In fact* because local taxation was an integral part of the taxation system of a country. 58a The seminar was of the opinion that local authorities in the Caribbean should be able to select* from among an extensive range of taxes defined and regulated by the central government9 those that could be applied at the local level* Such a system would presuppose greater d e c e n t a r a l i i and e f f i c i e n c y than achieved at the moment» But 9 this system should be regulated by law9 and it should be ensured that the p a r t i c u l a r l o c a l authorities have sufficiently worked out the functions for which the income from the taxes was intended for earmarked tax cases^ as in the case •.
59® Some local authorities will then use their resources in different ways which may be beneficial^ although as a result there may be unequal provision of services. 60th It was felt that comparative studies of the experience of the industry, different types of taxes in a variety of. 61« Central governments in the Caribbean should endeavor to make arrangements for sharing the proceeds of central government taxes with the local government bodies.
620 The current inefficiency in tax collection was a major problem in all Caribbean regions.* The Seminar believed that refinement of legal procedures and appropriate training would be the most effective remedies. Tax morale should also be a matter of national pride. . 64e Central governments should increasingly provide technical assistance to local governments in the implementation of tax laws. An investigation into the possibilities of developing uniformity in the principles of tax law. 65» The Seminar identified the following as the main shortcomings of the current system of financial management.
66® In a program to improve local economic administration in the Caribbean9 the following measures should be prioritized. Furthermore, savings deposits and other capital resources in the Caribbean t e r r i to r i e s should be u t i l i z e d for investments in national and local development'.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAINING
78" Within each territory there should be a national training institution or agency to identify and draw upon all the expertise available in the various sectors and to each government agency for training purposes under the auspices of such institution9 or closure. associated with it as a separate entity9 a local government training program should be established” I felt that all sectors^ private and public9 should participate and be included in the training program©. 80* Since the central government and the local authorities were partners in the common effort for national development^ it was deemed important that senior officials of the central government should be oriented to the concept and expansion of the role of local authorities". 82e The seminar also considered any special preparation that might need to be provided for local government instructors to equip them for their task*.
84c The Seminar felt that mobile training units would prove valuable and cost-effective in operation to provide short courses on techniques or to organize orientation courses for councilors and presidents-elect. 85® Greater opportunities should be made available to provide training outside the Caribbean region in those areas where local training facilities were absent or inadequate®. This would give officials at the policy-making level an opportunity to "broaden their horizons and examine common problems in other local government systems".
8?c The seminar noted the gradual realization in the Caribbean that planning for integrated development should take into account spatial considerations in addition to s ect o r a l. 88o These trends9 noted the seminar ^ had an important bearing on the development of local government and the areas for central services to local authorities9 as a partnership between both. Vo Local authorities should be closely linked in the process of studies that can be carried out before the design of regional plans0. This will give the local government units an insight into the areas' problems and perspectives and will thus enable them to contribute meaningfully to the formulation. of the plans®.
INCENTIVES AND SAFEGUARDS
15a Arrangements should be made for sharing the revenues of central government taxes with local government authorities. 17o Existing laws should be made specific within the time limits allowed for paying taxes9 and the methods of enforcing the tax law should be made as strict as possible at the same time. In addition, savings deposits and other capital resources of the countries in the Caribbean should be used for investments in national and local development.
The content^ methods and techniques of training should be kept under close and constant review so. that training
28, Senior officials of the central government should be oriented to the concepts and expansion of the role of local authorities in development. This would allow local units to gain an insight into the problems and perspectives of the areas and thus enable them. 4Go The tasks of the Ministry of Local Government should include policy formulation^ l e g i s l a c i j ^ administration and supervision5 training and staff management^. improving local government could include
43 "Governments in the Caribbean should encourage the establishment and growth of national associations of local authorities", which could significantly contribute to the improvement and development of local government. paragraph 108). 50* Arrangements for multinational professionals in government should be easier than they are now®. 52© The capacity of Caribbean universities to provide education and training in public administration and local government should be increased and
Problems of Institutional Transplantation - The Case of the Commonwealth Caribbean Local Government System (CRS/. CSLA/BPal) is a reproduction of an article,' by* Dr® Paul Singh, Lecturer in Local Government at the University of Guyana. 5* Report of the Caribbean Regional Training Workshop on Community Development and Local Government" United Nations ECLA" E/CNe12/8479. We in Guyana pride ourselves on having the oldest and best local government system in the Caribbean.* but in my opinion it's just bullshit in conceito We also have the oldest railway in Latin America - but it's the worst.
It is my pleasure and privilege to address you on behalf of Brfi Carlos Quintana«, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), during the first session of the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Central S e r v i c e s to Local A U t h o r i t i e s * The Seminar brings important s e n i o o f f i c ia l s from eight c o u n t r i e s in the r e g i o n several consultants of, i o n . busy with ongoing research on cr u c ial and p r a c t i c a l aspects of the s u b j e c t matter of the Seminar*. The unprecedented growth in the number and complexity of functions that governments have to undertake as a result of the recent c o n s t i t u t i o n a l advances^ e s p e c i a l y those arising from the task of planning for overall development«, puts a great strain on the government machinery of the central government.
