April, 2010 Volume 1,
NAVCO Newsletter
Launching of NAVCO Newsletter
Mr. Orlando Dawson President NAVCO
Mr. Hilbert Lopez Chief Administrative Officer NAVCO
NAVCO Highlights NAVCO Launch of Newsletter . Village Council Act Revision New National Policy of Local Governance Village Budget 2010 Village Assessment 2010 Upcoming Village Councils Election
Greetings from the President Mr. Orlando Dawson and staff at the National Association of Village Councils. We are here to keep you all up to date with the Role and Responsibility of the National Association of Village Councils. Our History In 1999, the Government of Belize passed the Village Councils Act (VCA), chapter 88 of the Laws of Belize. This Act gave birth to the National Association of Village Councils (NAVCO). The Act gave Village Councils the legal authority to govern their own communities. The village Act also made provision for the formation for the District Associations of Village Councils (DAVCO). In Early 2000, six District Associations of Village Councils were formed across the
country. Our Mission NAVCO is the National organization spearheading the development of rural communities. It seeks to improve the quality of life for rural communities through advocacy through representation and dialogue at all levels and to provide relevant and adequate services working with all stakeholders. Our Objectives
To develop and enhance rural leadership To ensure the viability of Village Council Act To advocate for relevant and adequate services and assure effective and equitable deliverance To sustain the viability of NAVCO and DAVCO To identify and access economic and social development resources for rural communities To seek or initiate research that will identify or determine key social, economic and other factors to aid in sustainable development
Village Council Act – Revision The Ministry of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development is currently working with NAVCO and DAVCO to revise the Village Council Act to comply with the new forthcoming National Policy for Local Governance which is scheduled to go into effect this spring, 2010. The revisions will encompass the rules and regulations for NAVCO, DAVCO, and the changes on the roles and responsibilities of the Water
Boards and the Village Councils. The revised Act will clarify and communicate a more transparent governance and set processes and duties for fiscal accountability. With these changes, the Village Councils will have empowerment to manage and better sustain the viability of their communities. Anyone interested in participating in the revision process is welcome to contact the NAVCO office. 1
Individual Highlights: NAVCO Office Hours Contact Information DAVCO /NAVCO Calendar of Events NAVCO Resource Room
NAVCO Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Office Asst: Jacklin Ingram Monday, Wednesday Friday at NAVCO Tuesdays & Thursdays at Cayo DAVCO Office: Georgeville Village
National Policy on Local Governance AUGUST 2009, VILLAGE GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE
In 2008, the initiative for the development of a National Policy on Local Governance was launched and after much research and consultations the Government of Belize approved the policy on 25th August, 2009. The Central Government’s national policy is directed towards decentralization of governance for greater equity, efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency in the delivery of local government services to people in rural Delivery of local government services to people in rural communities. Here are highlights that reflect the changes in the Village Council Act: Roles and responsibilities remains for overall village development and management. Changes include: 1) Active participation with residents on village plans; 2) Work with Central Government on development plans; 3)
DAVCOs to assume responsibility to collect particular licenses and village fees on behalf of villages in their districts for distribution to village. Regular public meetings with residents for updates on progress, receive concerns and proposals from citizens; 4) Negotiate with central government for funds based on formula that includes population size, geographical size, and level of need, and past financial
performance; 5) DAVCOs to assume responsibility to collect particular licenses and village fees on behalf of villages in their districts for distribution to village. Two major changes include: 1) WATER BOARD: amendments to allow village councils to have primary responsibility the provision of water services to villages. Village councils shall be given authority for directly appointing the majority of members to Village Water Boards: five members including its chairperson and on other councilor – other three council appointees can either come from the council or the wider community. The Ministry will appoint two members with technical and financial expertise and to serve as liaisons with the Ministry. 2) RURAL LIQUOR LICENSING BOARDS will be phased in for issuing licenses outside of the boundaries of municipalities – elected councils shall have right to appoint the majority to such Boards thru their respective DAVCOs.
NAVCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Local Government & Rural Development are revising the NAVCO and DAVCO Regulations. Also in the revising process are the Village Council ACT and Water Board Regulations.
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Page 3 of 3 VILLAGE ASSESSMENT 2010 Last fall, 2009, NAVCO initiated a request for village budgets for 2010 to determine revenue and expenditures for each village. This year we are looking forward to do more trainings and workshops in Village Assessment, Budgets Estimate & Proposal, Motivational Workshop, and Computer Literacy etc. with all the newly elected Village Council in the Districts.
ATTENTION!! UPCOMING VILLAGE COUNCILS ELECTION 2010 Attentions to all villages please note that the Village Council Election commence the middle of April 2010. You can now go on the NAVCO Website and view the date of your village election. Also you can download and print a copy of the election schedule. ***The election date had change for Crooked Tree Village due to their Annual Cashew Festival so; the new election date for Crooked Tree Village is now May 30, 2010. NAVCO website: navco.org.bz
NAVCO RESOURCE CENTRE
Introducing Jacklin
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm Computer access, personal training on Email available Reading of New Articles Access to Spanish & English Village Council Acts Access of Village Council Acts on DVD Government, NGO’s and Villages Information
Hi everyone, my name is Jacklin Dian Ingram; I am the Office Assistant for NAVCO and DAVCO Cayo. It is my pleasure to be publishing our first NAVCO Newsletter to you all. Many of you may have heard me answering the phone and taking your messages, or you may come to the office and I have given you assistance in whatever information that you needed on villages or chairpersons, etc. I’m really looking forward to continuously working with you all.
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NAVCO BOARD MEMBERS 2007 - 2010 President:
Orlando Dawson (Belize District)
1st Vice President:
Fidelmar Hernandez (Orange Walk District)
CONTACT INFORMATION NAVCO OFFICE:
Treasurer:
Oscar Pollard (Belize District)
Address: Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds, P.O. Box 648, Belmopan, Belize, Central American
Secretary:
Juan Moguel (Orange Walk District)
Telephone: 822-02053
Board Members:
Brian Yearwood (Stann Creek)
Fax: 822-0192
Pedro Pixabaj (Stann Creek District) Hilaro Mess (Cayo District) Pedro Garcia (Cayo Districy) Roel Chan (Corozal District) Ceasar Canul (Corozal District) Feliciano Bol (Toledo District) Rogelio Oliva (Toledo District)
Email Address: navcobelize@gmail.com New forthcoming email address on Microsoft Outlook: belizenavco@navco.org.bz Website: http://.www.navco.org.bz Ms. Jacklin Ingram: belizenavco@navco.org.bz
Quote of the Month: “The most important issue between men and women in regard to a satisfying relationship would have to be COMMUNICATION. That is at the core of everything else.” Quoted from: Anonymous Survey Respondent
Mr. Hilbert Lopez: manager@navco.org.bz Mr. Orlando Dawson president@navco.org.bz
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