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Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett????

A set of Protocols which have been drafted to guide relations between the Constituency Councils and the various Government Departments, will be brought to life this year.

This affirmation came from Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett, during his feature address at the St. Joseph Constituency Council’s inaugural awards ceremony which took place at the Grantley Adams Memorial School, last Sunday evening.

Mr. Blackett stated that the Protocols were conceptualised through the observation that there was a need for greater interaction between the Constituency Councils and the various Government Ministries and Departments than currently existed.

He pointed out that the initiative would begin with the departments of the Ministry of Social Care, and advised Council members to "get to know [the departments] better so that you can see the ways in which the Councils can assist with the Ministry of Social Care’s mandate for poverty eradication, care of the elderly and persons with disabilities, and community development, without duplicating any of the already existing departmental functions."

He also told the Councilors that when they fully understood the work of Government, they would "be able to devise ways in which [they] can make a marked difference in the representation of the interests of residents and communities, and make [their] presence felt as the various Government programmes are developed."

The Constituency Empowerment Minister also underscored the need for consultations, through the Constituency Councils, before any major project was undertaken within communities.

"The worsening economic situation in the world, including the Caribbean, has alerted a caring Government to adjust to changing times and ensure that sound policy prescription is accompanied by good governance, where traits such as accountability, transparency, equity and the respect for rule of law are embedded in the consciousness of Barbadians of all walks of life," Minister Blackett said.

sharifa.medford@barbados.gov.bb

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