OCTOBER V o l u me 6
NAVCO N EWSLETTER NAVCO AGM HELD OCTOBER 2, 2010
NAVCO AGM HELD OCTOBER 2, 2010 The National Association of Village Councils Annual General Meeting was held October 2, 2010 at the George Price Centre for Peace.
Kelly McCarthy (US Embassy), Mayor Simeon Lopez, Rural Coordinator, Mr. Ernest Banner, NAVCO President, Mr. Orlando Dawson, Ambassador Vinai Thummalapaly, US Embassy, Mr. Fernando Wu Second Secretary & Councils, Rep. Taiwan Embassy
This year, the tenth Annual General Meeting went extremely well. Over a hundred and twenty five villages attended the AGM. Each village had one or more representatives representing their community, bringing the total participation of over two hundred attendees. Special guests included Ambassador of the United State, Charge De Affairs of the Venezuela Embassy, Representative from Mexico Embassy, Representative from Embassy of Taiwan, Mayor of Belmopan and Rural Coordinator from Ministry of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development. The President of NAVCO, Mr. Orlando Dawson, welcomed all the new elected village council leaders to the Tenth Annual General Meeting.
NAVCO AGM, General Assembly
The President addressed the General Assembly on the challenges that NAVCO had faced along the years, such as financial sustainability of the District Association of Village Councils to keep their doors open to provide the effective and efficient services to their villages, the disrespect of chairpersons and the Village Council Act. He also stated the importance of the organization in capacity building for Village Councils to take out their role and responsibilities effectively and efficiently, thus improving the lives of resident living in rural communities.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE AGM HELD RESOLUTION EXIHBITORS SHOWROOM TRAINING FOR CAYO DAVCO AGM PHOTOS
Con’t pg. 2
NAVCO Newsletter
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NAVCO AGM HELD OCTOBER 2, 2010
When votes were tallied, Mr. Orlando Dawson became the 2010 – 2013 NAVCO President to represent 194 villages in the country once again.
In return, the president also described the ongoing progress to increase the organization’s capacity and to strengthen the districts and the Village Councils by the presence of volunteers from the United States Peace Corp.
The New NAVCO Board 2010-2013 was sworn – in:
On a positive note he stated that all the DAVCO’s country wide will have their offices up and running. Thanks to the Government of Belize and the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development to provide budget for each DAVCO. The president also encouraged village councils to keep focus on the main goal of village development.
Bernardino Cowoh – Corozal District
On the agenda each DAVCO presented resolutions to the general assembly. Village Leaders spoke of issues affecting their communities:
Charles Leslie Jr. – Stann Creek District
Orlando Dawson – President, Belize District Michael Ortiz – Belize District Carlos Arana – Corozal District Idollyn Adolphus – Cayo District Hilario Mess – Cayo District Fidelmar Hernandez – Orange Walk District Aldeir Lima – Orange Walk District Corona Viafranco – Stann Creek District Juan Ak – Toledo District Paula Williams – Toledo District
Land, Electricity, Health Care, Village Boundaries, Roads, drains and other infrastructure that are needed in their communities etc. Also at the AGM an election was held for a new NAVCO president. Village Leaders nominated two candidates for the post of NAVCO’s president; Mr. Orlando Dawson the outgoing president for NAVCO and Mr. Hilario Mess Cayo DAVCO representative. There were seventy two (72) delegates that cast their vote for the 2010 – 2013 NAVCO President. New NAVCO Board swearing –in at AGM
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NAVCO Newsletter
DISTRICT RESOLUTIONS AT NAVCO AGM At the NAVCO AGM each DAVCO presented resolutions to the General Assembly. This year each district president presented important resolution and issues that are affecting their community in a day to day basis. The following are the resolutions presented by: Orange Walk, Belize and Corozal DAVCO.
Be it resolved that each village council collect trade license Be it resolved that the stipend for chairman be increase to $200 & $100 for councilors Be it resolved that the area representative to sit at quarterly meeting with DAVCO Be it resolves that whenever any type of development within a village, consultation with the village council is a must Be it resolved that villages do not pay for any type of matter that has to do with government- document e.g. maps, surveying or labor e.g. police security
Orange Walk DAVCO President (Fidelmar Hernandez)
ORANGE WALK DAVCO President, Mr. Fidelmar Hernandez, presented its 2010 resolutions at AGM: ”Be it resolved that the Village Councils be respected and recognized as the legal body of authority by either government or non-governmental organizations as outlined in the Village Council Act by Laws and Regulations of Chapter 88, 2003.”
Corozal DAVCO President (Bernadino Cowoh)
COROZAL DAVCO Mr. Cowoh, President, presented resolutions:
Bernadino the 2010
Be it resolved that Corozal DAVCO be given back the power & responsibility to collect liquor license fees Belize District DAVCO President (Michael Otriz)
BELIZE DAVCO Mr. Michael Ortiz, President, presented its 2010 resolutions to the General Assembly. Be it resolved that the area representative respect the Village Council Act, Water Board, Housing, failure to do so, such action will be null & void
Be it resolved that a fund be allocated to each village for rehabilitation of p Public streets Be it resolved that a clear and concise definition of village boundary be clarify for public knowledge
Con’t pg. 4
NAVCO Newsletter
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NAVCO FIRST TRAINING WITH CAYO DAVCO On September 18, 2010 the first Train the Trainer Workshops was held at the NAVCO Office for the newly elected Cayo DAVCO Board. The training was conducted by Sandy Yamakishi (Peace Corps Volunteer NAVCO), Mr. Hilbert Lopez, Chief Administrative Office NAVCO and Jacklin Ingram, Office Assistant NAVCO.
The training was based on: Conducting of Village Council Meeting
Village Council Acts on Meeting Agenda Procedure Motion Writing Minutes Conducting and Controlling Meeting
Village Council File Records, Book Keeping, & Reporting Office Record Keeping Treasurer’s Responsibility Village Council Act – Official Forms Liquor License Collections Basic Book Keeping Forms Budget Proposal and Village Planning Submission of Budget Proposal Developing a Village Plan After the training was accomplished, board members were satisfied and had a broader mind of carrying out training to the village council leaders in order for them to have proper records for their community.
Cayo DAVCO Train the Trainer Workshop
EXIHBITORS SHOWROOMS NAVCO AGM 2010 For the first time, the National Association of Village Council had a showroom of different NGO’s, and Embassies to display their organization and share necessary information that could benefit village leaders and their community. The four photos below are: US Embassy, PLENY Belize, SPEAR, and Mexico Embassy.
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NAVCO Newsletter
NAVCO AGM PHOTO GALLERY
General Assembly
Village Leaders Registering
United States Peace Corps Booth
Stann Creek District Village Leaders
NAVCO President, Orlando Dawson
Charles Leslie Jr. Member DAVCO & Chairman of Placencia Village
NAVCO Newsletter
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THANK YOU NOTE!!!! The National Association of Village Council would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Tenth Annual General Meeting: Mr. Paul Mahung who did a wonderful job directing our event and making it very entertaining Reverend Alvan Gentle who graciously opened the event with a very spiritual Invocation Mayor Simeon Lopez who welcomed all our invited guests to the City of Belmopan Mr. Ernest Banner who represented the Ministry of Rural Development and reported on the status of villages in the country Gracious appreciation to the following Guests and Exhibitors: Ambassador Vinai Thummallapaly – Embassy of the United States Ms. Kelly S. McCarthy – Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy Mr. Gabriel Sanchez – Charge De Affairs, Venezuela Embassy Mr. Fernando Wu – Second Secretary & Councils, Rep. Taiwan Embassy Mr. Marcelino Miranda – Press Officer, Mexico Embassy SPEAR PEACE CORP CENTRAL BUILDING AUTHORITY SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND BELIZE BUREAU OF STANDARDS COMPACT COORDINATOR & NATIONAL COORDINATO SPG PROGRAM RCDO’s – Rural Community Development Officer
CONTACT INFORMATION NAVCO OFFICE: Address: Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds, P.O. Box 648, Belmopan, Belize, Central American Telephone: 822-02053 Fax: 822-0192 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 Mr. Hilbert Lopez: manager@navco.org.bz Mr. Orlando Dawson president@navco.org.bz
“STRENTHENING LOCAL GOVERNANCE TO ENHANCE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT”
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NAVCO Newsletter Individual Highlights:
NAVCO Office Hours Contact Information DAVCO /NAVCO NAVCO Resource Room EVENT FOR NOVEMBER 2010
Training for Village Councils in
Quote of the Month: "ALL MEANINGFUL AND LASTING CHANGE STARTS FIRST IN YOUR IMAGINATION AND THEN WORKS ITS WAY OUT. IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE."
ALBERT EINSTEIN
the Cayo District
Train the Trainer Workshop for: Belize, Stann Creek, Toledo and Orange Walk DAVCO November 19th, 2010, Garifuna Settlement Day NAVCO Office Hours NAVCO RESOURCE CENTRE Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm Computer access, personal training on Email available
Reading of News Articles Access to Spanish & English Village Council Acts Access of Village Council Acts on DVD Government, NGO’s and Villages Information
Office Opening Hrs. Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Office Asst: Jacklin Ingram Monday, Wednesday Friday at: NAVCO Office Tuesdays & Thursdays at Cayo DAVCO Secretary: Jacklin Ingram Office: Georgeville Village Opening Hrs: 8:30am – 2:30pm