Local Govt Task Force has become irrelevant - Dr Luncheon

Local Govt Task Force has become irrelevant – Dr Luncheon

Apr 12, 2009 News

There remains a commitment to local government elections in 2009 even as the Joint Task Force has been dissolved.

On Thursday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, told the media that this commitment is not an isolated assurance but that it is also a reflection of the considered opinion and the decision-making of the Secretariat and the Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission.

In light of the statements by Co-Chair of the Taskforce, Clinton Collymore, Dr. Luncheon said that had the Task Force continued in ‘its slow way of doing things’ there would definitely not have been any local government elections until 2020.

On Tuesday last, Collymore announced to members that there would no longer be meetings of the Task Force.

Dr. Luncheon said on Thursday, that the Task Force has been meeting for the past eight years (and) has been operating at a very slow pace.

“The legislation has become such an imperative that were the Task Force to continue doing the task force mandate, the same way as they would deal with the legislation, chances are we would not have the legislation in place.”

It is parliament, Dr. Lucnheon said, that ultimately would have to pronounce on the legislation.

“Our feeling is that whilst there is merit in having the governing party and the opposition in a private thing called the ‘task force’ indeed what is transparent is the voyage to parliament.”

The earlier the legislation gets to the National Assembly, he noted, the more time it is given for its consideration.

“Were we not obsessed with that kind of reasoning and the task force went along with its work in its own style and time frame, what would have happened to our commitment to hold local government election in 2009?”

On Wednesday last, the PNCR said that the work of the Joint Task Force on Local Government Reform has been thrown into uncertainty again, claiming that the government has arbitrarily abandoned the process.

During a press conference last week, Opposition Leader Robert Corbin said that the PNCR would be meeting with the other Parliamentary political parties to discuss the matter.

Corbin claimed that this latest action by the government demonstrates its intention to avoid the implementation of the reforms that are necessary for the efficient functioning of the Local Government system.

On March 13, last, GECOM was given the green light to begin producing new identification cards.

The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that Dr. Steve Surujbally was given approval with the support from the donor community to go ahead with the manufacturing of the new ID cards.

These new cards will be distributed to persons on the national registration list from the ages of 14 and above and not 18 as was previously done. In making a decision to move forward, the 2009 local elections commitment was the major rationale in such a decision, he had said.

On February 25 last, the National Assembly approved $90M for the update and finalization of the voter’s list to host local government elections this year.

The money will be expended on purchasing life jackets, torchlights and other gear to equip the 27 registration offices countrywide.

The sum will also cater for the distribution of National Identification Card.

Mr. Corbin, during that sitting of the National Assembly, questioned the sums allocated to GECOM, since according to him he is skeptical that the money will be sufficient.

The Opposition leader was, however, assured by the Prime Minister that the money would be adequate to cover the expenses of GECOM.

According to the Prime Minister, the GECOM programme has been reworked to suit the available funds. After eight years, the local government task force is yet to agree on the reforms.

The decision taken by the task force will have to be legislated to allow for elections.