KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government and Participatory Democracy Natalie Neita-Garvey says three critical Acts passed in Parliament in 2016 to transform Jamaica’s local government financing and governance framework have never been given full effect because the Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie has failed to bring the required regulations to Parliament in nearly 10 years.

Garvey who made the remarks during her sectoral contribution on Wednesday described the failure as inexcusable. She noted that McKenzie, who has held the portfolio for over a decade, appeared in Parliament last week promising a new Building Act whilst the regulatory framework for flagship 2016 legislation put in place by the previous Portia Simpson Miller administration remains incomplete.

She argued that without those regulations, the promised reforms on financial empowerment, directly elected executive mayors, and genuine municipal autonomy exist only on paper.