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Disbandment of NDCs will impede development
– Region Four Chairman
The recent disbandment of several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the installation of Interim Management Committees (IMCs) by Government will impede development at the community level.
Region Four Chairman, Clement Corlette
This is according to Region Four Chairman, Clement Corlette, during an interview with this publication yesterday. He explained that the IMCs would be dependent on Government for directions to execute projects while neglecting what persons want at the community level.
Corlette noted that he is not worried with recent actions of Minister of Local Government, Ganga Persaud – of “barging into NDC buildings and ousting exiting Councils”. But he is gauging their movements, particularly in his Region.
Of the 15 NDCs in Region Four, two Councils have been disbanded. The Better Hope NDC was disbanded late last year and is currently not functioning properly. Early this year, the troubled Grove- Diamond NDC was disbanded and an IMC installed.
Corlette emphasised that he is disappointed with the outcome of the Grove-Diamond NDC since it was the best years ago. He attributed the NDCs’ failures on Government since the Local Government Ministry directed NDCs not to report to the Regional Democratic Councils.
In addition, the Regions no longer approve the estimates for the NDCs. This distance allowed the NDCs leaders to engage in corrupt practices since the Ministry is incapable of paying keen attention to all the Councils.
He is confident that the current IMCs installed by Government will not survive like others in the past. One of the main reasons is because the members of the IMCs have no obligation to the populace.
Corlette noted that Councillors of NDCs are voted in based on projections and proposals they informed residents they would do. He added that communities need tangible development that could only be derived from them.
He stressed that instead of installing IMCs, Government should focus on making Local Government Elections a reality.
“Local Government Reform should be a priority in Parliament. Government had said that within one year of National Elections, Guyana will have Local Government Elections…Six months have passed and there is no move as yet,” Corlette said.
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