HEADS of two PNM-led corporations shared Minister of Rural Affairs and Local Government Faris Al-Rawi's excitement about local government reform, but two heads of UNC-led corporations wondered if reform could truly solve perennial problems of bureaucracy, speaking to Newsday on Thursday.
Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation head Kwasi Robinson said, "The entire local government is emphatically excited to have Minister Al-Rawi here with us, in terms of his approach to work."
He recalled Al-Rawi's recent meeting with local government leaders in San Fernando.
"Everybody was excited leaving that meeting, because the way his mind works is much different to what we had before. We are grateful for the support we had from the former minister but the way how Mr Al-Rawi is approaching it has us all excited.
"In terms of projects our main focus right now is the reform bill that is in Parliament and we are really excited to have Minister Al-Rawi head this."
Asked his priorities for reform, Robinson said, "He (Al-Rawi) has indicated that he is focused on digital transformation which would help us with the transparency in procurement and that kind of stuff. So he has indicated his priority and as chairman I will follow the lead of the new minister."
Point Fortin mayor Saleema McCree-Thomas said similar, recalling Al-Rawi's years as an alderman.
"I am very excited to work with the new minister. He will bring some level of local government experience to the ministry, with his former experience in the Ministry of the Attorney General and the development of local government reform.
"I know that he too is very excited after meeting him in our introductory meeting at City Hall. I felt the excitement and the passion for him to start working with our local government, so I'm very eager to continue working with him."
She eagerly awaited greater autonomy to develop the borough, more financial stability and the removal of bureaucracy.
"At local government, we are the ones on the ground daily, so we have that hands-on feeling with the persons out there, our burgesses in the community."
She added, "I think in every change that happens in life there are challenges. However I see it creating more employment for our people in the different avenues local government reform will create." She expected more jobs in the borough at at the corporation.
However, two UNC-led corporations reacted cautiously to Al-Rawi's enthusiasm.
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Penal-Debe Regional Corporation head Dr Allen Sammy quipped, "Is there any minister who will go into a portfolio and say, 'Where the Hell they put me?' I'd not expect anybody to go into a new portfolio and not express excitement."
He then complained how hard it is to get funds such as to build a box drain. He said six months could lapse from a request to the Ministry of Local Government to the Ministry of Finance's approval. "Nobody could be 'excited' by this.
"It doesn't matter who is there. Unless there is
