Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller engages in bilateral talks with the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera during a visit to the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, for the third Summit of Heads of Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) recently
(January 28-29).The bilateral talks focused on increasing functional cooperation between Jamaica and Costa Rica, particularly on Jamaica providing technical guidance in Costa Rica’s effort to build a strong Local Government system. (Photo: JIS)
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government has agreed to assist Costa Rica to establish a Local Government system.
As part of the agreement, the country will facilitate visits by Costa Rican Government officials to familiarise themselves with the parish council and municipal system in Jamaica.
This, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said in a release Tuesday, is among other areas of functional cooperation being considered to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The issues were raised during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose while the Prime Minister attended the Third Summit of Heads of Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) January 28- 29, the release said.
President Solis noted that Costa Rica lagged behind many other countries in terms of the absence of a strong Local Government system and, according to the release, said Jamaica was seen as a country with a strong track record in this area. He also pointed to Prime Minister Simpson Miller’s reputation as a leader in Local Government, the OPM noted.
The Prime Minister noted that while Jamaica has not accomplished all of its objectives in relation to local government, the efforts at strengthening the system were ongoing, including the Local Government Reform Bill now before Parliament.
