Speaking at the opening of the second Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Tshwane, South Africa on 4 March, Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, said the question facing cities in the Commonwealth is: are they on the brink of a creative explosion that would act as a magnet for thousands of artists, painters, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, scientists and policy makers? The challenge for these cities, he said, is to ensure they take advantage of modern technology to attract new generations of business people, thinkers, politicians, community workers and trade unionists, and together with them, form durable partnerships that are mutually beneficial.
“Like the New York of the 19th century, cities can begin to develop into classic, creative and prosperous centres, becoming the locomotives of economic growth for our entire countries,” President Mbeki said. “This, I believe, is the challenge for this important conference. We must, at the end of this gathering, be able to assist one another with practical ideas and plans that will take our cities on the path of development and prosperity.”
A unique forum of ministers, officials, mayors, and Local Government leaders, the second Commonwealth Local Government Conference was themed ‘Local Government Service Partnerships’, and explored the successful harnessing of the skills and resources of public and private sector organisations.
At a time when global issues and insecurities are casting a long shadow of uncertainty, the need for communities around the world to be networking, exchanging ideas and supporting each other is absolutely paramount. More than ever, the rapidly growing division between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ is driving deep wedges both between nations and within nations. This is providing the ingredients necessary for splinter groups and extremists to gain the support and resources they need to carry out terrorist acts. These actions are wreaking havoc on countless innocent people and leaving few communities untouched by the shadow of fear.
To build a better, fairer, more sustainable future, drawing together key stakeholders across communities, nations, within regions and globally is vital. The important role that Local Government can play in this process has never been more evident. For this reason, Councils in Australia should make it a priority to have representation at two key Asia Pacific forums being staged in Australia next month. The Australian Local Government Association is hosting the IULA – Asia Pacific Congress in Sydney from 9–11 April and, in the following week, from 13–16 April, Brisbane City Council will host the 2003 Asia Pacific Cities Summit. Refer to Diary Dates on this page for further information on these important international gatherings.
