The Tribune

AGRICULTURE Minister V Alfred Gray wants the Department of Local Government to have more clearly defined roles of leadership.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Gray announced his intention to put before Cabinet on Tuesday a collection of amendments to the Local Government Act. The changes would make provisions for a director and deputy director of the department.

Mr Gray, who also has local government in his portfolio, said the change was necessary as leadership was lacking in the existing structure. Therefore key responsibilities and decision making were left in the hands of the Permanent Secretary or a staff member, directed by the Minister.

Another proposed change to the Act is the level of authority which is granted to local family island district councils in the issuance of business licenses.

“Prior to now,” he said, “business licenses had all been removed from the local government Council’s authority (by the former administration). I considered that a mistake then and I consider it a mistake now.”

With that, Minister Gray said that he intends to ask Cabinet to approve an amendment to allow for occasional licenses, provisional licenses, or one day licenses to be left under the purview of Local Government Councils.

He explained that under the present Act, out-islanders hosting cook outs for the sick, a regatta or a church fair and in need of a one day license are required to travel to Nassau to secure the required permits at considerable expense and inconvenience.

Therefore the proposed amendment is designed to ease the financial burden associated with those types of family island economic activities.

As for a time line, Mr Gray said it is expected that Cabinet will put its stamp of approval on the proposed amendments within the next few weeks.

Local Government elections at the Family Islands are scheduled for June 23, 2014.