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PNCR says PPP seeking advantage in Local Government Elections

Oct 23, 2009 News

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) firmly believes that the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), is planning to “secure an advantage” in the impending Local Government Elections by “gerrymandering” the boundaries of constituencies in the various Local Government areas.
This was disclosed during the party’s weekly press conference, at Congress Place, Sophia, yesterday where its representative to the task force to come up with local government reform Alan Munroe, said that the reform of the Local Government system suggests that the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC), and each of the six towns in Guyana would be halved into constituencies equal to half of the number of councilors who will take part in the Council.
According to Munroe, to ensure that the process was undertaken in a scientific fashion and “free from partisan political influence”, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) began a process of consultation with the communities involved.
Such consultations would involve representatives of the existing Councils, community groups and the various political parties and according to Munroe the many recommendations emanating from the consultations had the support of the public, with an expectation that they would have guided any decision on the number of constituencies for each local government area and their respective boundaries.
However he added that GECOM could not formally deliberate on those matters before all of the consultations were completed given that Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall, issued an order, declaring the number of councilors for each local government area.
Munroe is of the opinion that this Ministerial Order has serious implications for the implementation of the recommendations, and “is clearly designed to frustrate all the consultations undertaken by GECOM with the involvement of all stakeholders.”
According to investigations carried out by the main opposition party at least eighteen Local Government areas are likely to be affected by the Order issued by the Minister.
Munroe also claimed that People’s Progressive Party’s General Secretary Donald Ramotar wrote a letter to the Chairman of GECOM “warning that due note must be taken of the Minister’s directive,” in a follow-up to the order.
When asked whether the PNC intends to participate in the Local Government Elections, Basil Williams said that the party is in favour of the elections, but after the Local Government Reform, it has not reached the stage where the party can safely make such a determination. “It’s too premature.”

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