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Administration wants to avoid Local Govt. Commission – PNCR

Apr 19, 2009 News

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is of the view that the only reason the Local Government election issue is being taken to Parliament to be discussed is due to the fact that the government wants to avoid the establishment of a Local Government Commission.

It was explained that this commission would be responsible for employment and a number of other critical issues and would therefore reduce the power of the Local Government Minister.
At his last press conference, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that he will make one final attempt to discuss the outstanding issues with Leader of the PNCR, Robert Corbin and if that does not work then he will take the four bills to the Parliament to be debated.

When asked if the party leader will be engaging President Jagdeo to discuss the outstanding issues, PNCR co-chairman of the now disbanded Local Government Task Force, Allan Munroe, told media operatives that it is difficult to say what the leader would do, but assured that, “(Robert) Corbin has his own strategy of how he will deal with it”.

Monroe went on to explain that the members have discussed the issue at their executive meeting and have decided on some actions that they will take which will soon be revealed to the public.
Meanwhile, Executive Member of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton said if the Government decides to take the issue to Parliament, it is only because they want to keep the power in the hands of the Local Government Minister.
“The simple truth is that they do not want a reduction in the power of the local government minister, because they want to be able to give which RDC (Regional Democratic Council) money and don’t give when they don’t feel like giving…In other words, they want dependent bodies,” Norton said.

He added that the Parliament is structured in a way that once there is a simple majority, then that party can get its way and therefore the Government would want to pursue legislation that maintains the old system, “they don’t care what anybody says and then pass the bill”.
President Jagdeo had said that he received complaints from government co-chair of that Task Force, Clinton Collymore that there has been stone walling from the opposition’s side and that there, “doesn’t seem to be any impression that there is any urgency about the matter.”

However, according to the PNCR, the members of the bi-partisan Local Government Task Force have always co-operated to expedite the reform of the Local Government system.
“It has been clear, from the inception, that despite agreements and statements to the contrary, including the 2003 Communiqué (that started the reform process), the PPP members seem committed to frustrate the process…The PNCR states categorically that, if there is the political will and good faith, on the part of the Jagdeo Administration, the reform of the Local Government system can be completed in time to hold Local Government Elections by November 2009,” the PNCR stated.

The party member noted that there has already been agreement on the reforms to the Local Government Electoral system and that discussions on the details of the draft Bill for Fiscal Transfers to Local Authorities have been advanced, while the PPP members have been dragging their feet on holding discussions on the draft Bill for the establishment of the Local Government Commission.
“These Bills would all have to be tabled and passed in the National Assembly.
The PNCR and the other Opposition Parties have called for all three (3) Bills to be Tabled in the National Assembly, at the same time, since, if there is agreement on the Bills, their passage, through all stages in the National Assembly, could be expedited.”

According to the party, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill is simply the Bill, which would capture all the needed consequential amendments to the existing Local Government legislation.
Meanwhile, the Party members continued to urge for a comprehensive public education programme to be held early to ensure that the Guyanese electors are fully informed and understand the new Local Government Electoral system.

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