The Tribune

FREEPORT – Nine students from St George’s High School took their oath of office as local government junior councillors.

The new team, headed by chief councillor Robert Kramer and deputy chief G’Niyo Stuart, were sworn in during a special assembly in the high school gymnasium.

More than 800 students, teachers, parents and guests witnessed the ceremony, which was conducted by Alexander Williams, senior family island administrator with responsibility for the City of Freeport.

Other junior councillors taking the oath of office were: Deshelle-lee Forbes, Paula Greene, Philicity Gibson, Delano Dames, Samuel McIntosh, Lakesha Joseph and Lashan Cooper.

They were voted into office during elections held on November 18.

Addressing the gathering on Monday, Mr Williams explained that the junior councillors represent the “up-and-coming future generation of local government practitioners.”

Some years ago, he said, the Ministry for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government began introducing young people to the concept of local government.

“It was thought then that we ought to have the next generation of local government practitioners and local leaders knowledgeable of the system of local government.

“Travelling through this country, I realised that for the last 16 years since we have had local government, that a lot of us were not too familiar with what local government was all about, and local government had been introduced to all of the Family Islands since 1996.

“What is local government, the question has been asked? But local government means different things to different people throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. In South Africa they say that local government is another level of government, another sphere of government.

“However, it is generally said that local government is that system of governance that is closest to the people; that system of governance that is more responsive to the people at the local level; that system of governance that knows the needs of the people and addresses those needs in a readily and timely fashion,” he told the students, teachers, parents and guests.

“We who are in the free world, our freedom is based on the principles of democracy. Our freedom is based on that principle because democracy means that everyone is free, and in a democracy there is no slavery, and all have a say in the decision-making process in their country and in their community.

“It is intended that local government brings this governance closer to you and me and you have a say as to what happens in your community,” he said.

He also pointed out that the City of Freeport is a peculiar place because it has a central government, of which he is a representative, but it also has the Grand Bahama Port Authority which retains certain responsibilities, as well as an elected local government.

Mr Williams also told the junior councillors he hopes to meet with them soon to explain the system in detail and reveal how they can play their part in refining it in the future.