A re-definition and a re-specification of role of the subnational sphere in which are found local and regional governments; localities and communities; and associations, groups and individuals is currently underway in the Commonwealth Caribbean. The subnational sphere is designated the arena most convenient, given new socio-economic and political imperatives, for creating public value. The concept of public value raises the significance of a rational –legal approach to public services delivery rather than a market approach. While the benefits and costs of public services are foremost considerations in public value theory [PVT] (Bozeman, 2011 and Moore, 2011) the impact that public decision making has on fundamental civic and democratic principles such as equity, liberty, responsiveness, transparency, participation, and citizenship are equally important (Kavanagh 2014).
Constitutional and legislative enactments mark this stage of local government reform in the Caribbean and purport to advance new ideas and principles about the image and operations of local government as a legitimate political institution that can contribute value to the society and political economy. Thus local government is now organically tied to local sustainable development, local autonomy, and citizen/stakeholder participation, as critical impulses on which the type of institutional change and social transformation necessary for the creation of public value in local government rest.
The aim of this paper is to assess the degree to which these enactments are normatively and empirically sound. The assessment will be done using the Public Value Score Card (PVSC) articulated in Moore’s work. The PVSC is composed of two broad perspectives – legitimacy and support, and operational capacity. The assessment frame will constitute feedback on the legislation for legitimacy and support and capacity audit findings for operational capacity of a sample of local authorities. The main argument of this paper is that reformers’ efforts to constitute local government as an unequivocal dimension in the creation of public value chain in the Commonwealth Caribbean have been at best exploratory. The conservative character of the institutional superstructure that shapes intergovernmental relations is a more significant determinant in this regard than a lack of political will to devolve power and authority to local government.
