Comments on: Local Government matters in the Commonwealth http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/2009/08/local-government-matters-in-the-commonwealth/ The largest, global dialogue ever undertaken between the peoples of the Commonwealth about their association...This is the Commonwealth Conversation. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:33:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ron McGill http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/2009/08/local-government-matters-in-the-commonwealth/comment-page-1/#comment-1968 Ron McGill Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:15:02 +0000 http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/?p=931#comment-1968 Replying to Tim Malone and being triggered by his key phrases, 'local government' and 'human rights': see the latest issue of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance and my paper, A Human Rights Approach to Localising The MDGs Through Gender-Equitable Local Development. It might answer a few questions about the link between LG and HR. Two of the pioneering countries in the cited GELD programme are in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Replying to Tim Malone and being triggered by his key phrases, ‘local government’ and ‘human rights’: see the latest issue of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance and my paper, A Human Rights Approach to Localising The MDGs Through Gender-Equitable Local Development. It might answer a few questions about the link between LG and HR. Two of the pioneering countries in the cited GELD programme are in Sierra Leone and Rwanda.

]]> By: Mong http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/2009/08/local-government-matters-in-the-commonwealth/comment-page-1/#comment-810 Mong Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:16:12 +0000 http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/?p=931#comment-810 I agree with RFlowings. In a developing country such as Bangladesh local government seems to be effective in some areas like empowering local people particularly women?s participation in the decision making processes (election/involvement with politics), primary education, health care, disaster management etc. But the successes of local government are always being in question due to the fact that some local leaders and politicians are so powerful and influential that it appears other government agencies ie police depart, local court have physically no power at all. In some places corruption within this institution is so gross that it turns to be a place of business/trade and extortion of some of the local leaders. Poverty and illiteracy in those places are still in common among a large numbers of people. They do not understand ?democracy?, or perhaps they do not need more than what they need for their daily survival, a handful of food for their kids. Poverty made them so vulnerable that they don?t mind selling their freedom of choice(/right to vote whoever they want to elect) to those leaders when they come to knock their doors with a bundles of notes before the election. That?s how some (most) of our local leaders get elected over the time. Can anyone say it as proper democracy? I doubt But at the same time I can envisage a real local government system and it is only possible if the local leaders are properly educated, trained and genuinely believe in the real essence of democracy. I think just a little effort of the Cth Secretariat can bring a huge change in terms of development and advancement of local government. Cth can organise leadership training program, workshops, seminars, conference etc where all the elected/selected (countrywise) local leaders from different commonwealth countries can meet together and share their experiences, skills, knowledge etc. I agree with RFlowings.
In a developing country such as Bangladesh local government seems to be effective in some areas like empowering local people particularly women?s participation in the decision making processes (election/involvement with politics), primary education, health care, disaster management etc. But the successes of local government are always being in question due to the fact that some local leaders and politicians are so powerful and influential that it appears other government agencies ie police depart, local court have physically no power at all. In some places corruption within this institution is so gross that it turns to be a place of business/trade and extortion of some of the local leaders. Poverty and illiteracy in those places are still in common among a large numbers of people. They do not understand ?democracy?, or perhaps they do not need more than what they need for their daily survival, a handful of food for their kids. Poverty made them so vulnerable that they don?t mind selling their freedom of choice(/right to vote whoever they want to elect) to those leaders when they come to knock their doors with a bundles of notes before the election. That?s how some (most) of our local leaders get elected over the time. Can anyone say it as proper democracy? I doubt

But at the same time I can envisage a real local government system and it is only possible if the local leaders are properly educated, trained and genuinely believe in the real essence of democracy. I think just a little effort of the Cth Secretariat can bring a huge change in terms of development and advancement of local government. Cth can organise leadership training program, workshops, seminars, conference etc where all the elected/selected (countrywise) local leaders from different commonwealth countries can meet together and share their experiences, skills, knowledge etc.

]]> By: TimMalone http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/2009/08/local-government-matters-in-the-commonwealth/comment-page-1/#comment-683 TimMalone Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:15:28 +0000 http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/?p=931#comment-683 How is Local Govt connected with an institution like the Commonwealth that meets to talk about human rights? How is Local Govt connected with an institution like the Commonwealth that meets to talk about human rights?

]]> By: RFLowings http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/2009/08/local-government-matters-in-the-commonwealth/comment-page-1/#comment-385 RFLowings Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:47:46 +0000 http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org/?p=931#comment-385 This is one of the greatest issues that Member states must deal with. The sad fact is that many aid programs, Commonwealth or no, fail at the local government level, either due to corruption, insufficient resources, or incompetence. This is even true of the UK today, where the Labour government has more or less invalided local government as an effective tool, meaning that local councils are often polluted with busybodies who care more about the state of the town hall than the widening cultural gulf between young and old. They just aren't equipped or staffed to deal with local problems, which has meant that the ignoble phrase 'broken Britain' has become a staple rallying cry of opposition parties. National governement is too curmudgeonly to deal with local problems - and local problems make up the vast majority. The Commonwealth should promote a more devolved approach to government - and not the 'national assmblies' approach which Britain used to appease the bigoted minorities in Wales and Scotland. There has to be an agreement to reduce central control, and Commonwealth inspectors to follow it up. At the same time, the Commonwealth must keep up its admirable efforts to fight corruption with legislation and by training local magistrates. If the local police and officials can be trusted in all member states, then you have built a stable society. And that is the fundamental distillation of all Commonwealth principles. This is one of the greatest issues that Member states must deal with. The sad fact is that many aid programs, Commonwealth or no, fail at the local government level, either due to corruption, insufficient resources, or incompetence.

This is even true of the UK today, where the Labour government has more or less invalided local government as an effective tool, meaning that local councils are often polluted with busybodies who care more about the state of the town hall than the widening cultural gulf between young and old. They just aren’t equipped or staffed to deal with local problems, which has meant that the ignoble phrase ‘broken Britain’ has become a staple rallying cry of opposition parties.

National governement is too curmudgeonly to deal with local problems – and local problems make up the vast majority.
The Commonwealth should promote a more devolved approach to government – and not the ‘national assmblies’ approach which Britain used to appease the bigoted minorities in Wales and Scotland. There has to be an agreement to reduce central control, and Commonwealth inspectors to follow it up. At the same time, the Commonwealth must keep up its admirable efforts to fight corruption with legislation and by training local magistrates. If the local police and officials can be trusted in all member states, then you have built a stable society.

And that is the fundamental distillation of all Commonwealth principles.

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