Local councils representatives in USA [Archives:2002/32/Reportage]

BY FAHMIA AL-FOTIH
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
H.E. Mr. Edmund J. Hull, the US ambassador in Sanaa met on Wednesday July 31st hosted a delegation of 15 Yemeni local council members, who left to the USA on Saturday the first of August to explore the American experience in running local government.
The ambassador welcomed the participants and wished them all success in their visit, which he hoped would provide them with valuable experience they could use once they are back in Yemen.


The 15 local council members were carefully selected to represent various political parties including the Yemeni Socialist Party, Islah Party, and the General Peoples Congress Party as well as one independent member with no party affiliation. One staff member of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which has been instrumental in planning for and organizing this trip, also joined them.
The individuals represented the following ten governorates: Abyan, Aden, Amran, Ibb, Al-Jawf, Marib, Saada, Sanaa, Shebwa, and Taiz.
This visit is aimed at providing those local council members with the opportunity to learn and explore the methods of effective local governance and interrelationship among local, state, and the federal governments in the USA. Moreover, they are expected to gain experience in methods of enabling the active participation of citizens in the political process to effect change and ensure stability in government and recognize the responsibilities of locally elected officials to serve their constituents. The delegation members are expected to eventually evaluate the U.S. political system and see what of the American system can be applied to the Yemeni system.
The visitors will also be meeting with elected US officials, staffers at various levels of government, leaders and members of local and national citizens groups, representatives of the media, scholars, students and the other citizens.
In sum, the program is designed to illustrate the manner in which all levels of government in the United State serve as mechanisms that are responsive to citizens concerns.
The participants expressed their delight to make the trip and hence have the chance to be familiar with the US local government system.
Fatima al-Horaibi, one of the female members of the delegation told Yemen Times I am glad to be part of this delegation and take part in the International Visitors Program so as to have a closer look at the American experience in the local council system in the USA and I shall try to benefit from my experience as Americans have progressed tremendously in this field.
Here in Sanaa, we still suffer from centralization and feel that we are connected to the central governor and I would like to know how we can bring about a smooth and gradual decentralization process by exploring the US example.
Ali Saleh al-Faheed, another participant said We will be witnessing an advanced level experience in democratic practice. Our American friends resemble a good example to follow and we are confident that we would benefit greatly from our visit.
The trip is fully sponsored by the International Visitors Program (IVP) of the U.S Department of State. The IVP is a means to introduce various aspects of American system in political, economic, social, and other aspects to international visitors. Special emphasis will be given to the exploration of American life and culture. The US administration believes that such visits will help in opening new channels between the USA and the rest of the world not only for professional development but also for cultural learning.


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