Ministry of Local Government: Government of the Republic of Trinidad and

Tobago

Caribbean Open Data Conference & Code Sprint:

Opportunities in Local Government

Mr. Junior McIntyre Manager, Management Information Services Ministry of Local Government Government of the Republic Of Trinidad & Tobago

Opportunities in Local Government

Clarifying Roles

The Ministry of Local Government is…

• “… the central coordinating agency for fourteen Municipal

Corporations, comprising two cities, three boroughs and nine

regions, each with an elected Council and administrative staff”

The Municipal Corporation…

• "… ensures the satisfactory delivery of those basic communal

services necessary to maintain a proper standard of living within

the region Municipality, and to provide all other public facilities

aimed at improving the quality of life of its citizenry"

Broad Governance Mandate

Promote the concept of people in communities’ playing an active role in the governance and democratic processes, shaping and charting their destiny and quality of life within the broader National Governance Framework

Provide citizens with the opportunity to determine and prioritize the projects and services to de delivered within their respective communities

Develop an efficient and well-managed local government system organized on a citizen-centric basis

38%

34%

23%

19%

17%

17%

13%

13%

12%

11%

Improvements for the Local Area

Q What improvements to facilities and services do you feel are most needed in your particular neighbourhood?

Jobs

Policing

Drainage

Maintenance of the area

Facilities for young people

Parks and Open Spaces

Community Centres

Water Supply

W15*

Sports/Health facilities

(*Wave 15 = Feb 2010)

% Top Ten Mentions 19%

28%

23%

25%

13%

10%

12%

12%

10%

Roads

18%

Base: 2,887 TT adults, 18+, 24 May – 15 July 2011

MORI

Caribbean

6

Caribbean

Satisfaction with Local Government Body

Fairly satisfied

Very satisfied No opinion

Neither

Q How satisfied or dissatisfied would you say you are with your local government body?

Fairly dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

-8

2003: +30

2008: -6

2010: -28

2011: -8

Base: 2,887 TT adults, 18+, 24 May – 15 July 2011

41%

33%

Strengthen executive decision making capability by involving the sectoral and community

interests in policy making in a structured way

Offer the local authorities technology-based facilities to

ensure greater coherence in the delivery of all public services

locally

Some keys to developing the local government system

1

• Understand the Issues

2

• Evaluate the Options

3

• Select the Policy

4

• Implement Policy

5

• Evaluate Policy Consequences

Governance and Public Policy Process

Public Information

and Community Engagement

Core Principles

Accountability & Transparency

Equitable service delivery

Inclusiveness & Participation

Development through local

leadership

Social cohesion

Continuous capacity

development

What are some appropriate open data strategies for local government?

What are the expected outcomes of these open data strategies and what

opportunities do they possess?

What does local government need to do to open up their data/information?

Important open data considerations:

Open and Accountable Services (OAS)

Services will provide more information about plans, priorities and performance, encouraging public consultation and supporting local government representatives in keeping in touch with the citizens they represent

Open and Accountable Councils (OAC)

Minutes and agenda of statutory council meetings will be made available to the public on the internet along with podcasts and live streaming content. The public will be able to follow and track discussions and engage in dialogue using social media networks such as twitter and RSS news feeds

Open and Accountable Policies (OAP)

promoting self-governance of people in a given area through public policy that is formulated on data/information that is relevant and available to the people,

•intimate knowledge of the needs and how they are affected by policy,

•help citizens understand all the implications of public policy issues and provide information throughout the policy formulation process

A look at our open data strategies:

Ownership and participation in maintaining clean and sanitary

community facilities

Awareness of issues affecting sanitary drainage and water

course ways

Input in the planning construction and maintenance

of minor roads and bridges

Partnership and collaboration in municipal policing and

emergency response

Outcomes & Opportunities:

Open and Accountable Service

Open Procurement

Services

Transparency in Tendering

Process

Efficiency in Service

Implementation & Delivery

Value for Money

Good Governance

Open & Accountable

Services

Mission Critical Service

Identification

Online podcasts and streaming content of public

council meetings

Online access to minutes and agenda of statutory

meetings

Ability to track discussions and engage in dialogue

through the use of social media

Online access to reports of working committees and

financial transactions (requires legislation

change)

Opportunities: Open and

Accountable Councils

Promote and encourage local initiative,

experimentation, creativity and entrepreneurship

Ensure that Burgesses/Citizens can freely

express their views and participate in and influence policy and decision making

process

Ensure that basic social and physical infrastructure are

provided in an equitable and non discriminatory manner

Local Government as partner in all aspects of Social ,economic

and political development thereby promoting greater

social cohesion, inclusiveness and equal opportunity

Opportunities: Open and

Accountable Policies

Social Services

Education

Education Districts

Secondary Schools

Primary Schools

Tertiary Institutes

Libraries

Public Libraries

Community Facilities

Community Centres

Recreation Grounds

Health

Hospitals Regional Health

Authorities

Geospatial Data Relationships Impacting the Delivery of Services

Local Government Core Services

Infrastructure

Markets & Abattoirs

Burial Grounds & Cremation

Sites

Public Restrooms

Recreation Areas

Secondary & Tertiary Roads & Drains

Services

Disaster Management

Areas requiring

truck-borne water

Waste Management

Geospatial Data Relationships Impacting the Delivery of Services

Administrative & Political Boundaries

Communities

Communities according to 2000 Census

Communities by RC

Places

Cities and Towns

Villages Urban

Centres

Electoral

Electoral Polling

Division (2010)

Local Gov’t

Electoral Districts (2010)

Geospatial Relationships Among Data Impacting Governance & Public Policy

Impact

Desired Outcome

Output

Activities

Input

Local Government Challenges

E-Government

Integrated Platforms / Services

(Open Architecture; Open Data; Open

Standards)

GovNeTT WAN Infrastructure

Unified Local Gov’t Infrastructure

An effective highly responsive Government Organization

Modernised Local Government System

E-Citizens \ E-Views Local Government

Competence & Capacity

Continuous Public Engagement

Feedback Mechanism