Local government elections are urgently needed

Mar 05, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
In 2006, Bharrat Jagdeo in his address to Parliament stated that “in the next five years, my Government will work towards the political, economic and social transformation of our country in which all of our people will have equal access to resources and benefit from the economic development and improvement in social conditions.”
From the result of that five-year tenure, all of Guyana clearly knows that speech to Parliament was of no substance. It was most deceptive.
Most importantly, the lack of commitment from the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations to hold local government elections is not only a disaster for democracy, but also self-serving. Today, after 20 years in office, all local government office holders remain unaccountable to the taxpayers and voters.
All NDCs or Town Halls have seen their fair share of massive corrupt practices, nepotism, cronyism and shoddy services at this grass root level. Many NDC members whom we have spoken to, all claim they want to hand over office to the younger generation after 20 years; but the government will have none of it. They prefer to keep these malfunctioning, understaffed and under-performing agencies in place so that the central Government can appear as the saviour whenever there is a disaster in these local communities
But the more pertinent question is what the majority opposition has done in Parliament to push through the legislation to facilitate local Government elections. It is clear the PPP does not want these elections because they will be trounced at the polls, but is it also the case where the majority opposition, who has nothing to lose, also does not want local Government elections?
It is time for action from Mr. Granger if he wants to maintain any level of credibility as the leader of APNU/PNC.
The government is uncommitted to dialogue with the opposition parties and will continue to abuse the Courts to bully the majority opposition in a spirit that is devoid of cooperation and that is their playbook which has been institutionalized in the PPP. But what is in the majority opposition playbook; lie down and roll over on the issues by the barefaced bullies?
On this issue of local government elections, the opposition has the legal and moral high ground, but they like the PPP cabal continue to abuse this political opportunity, either out of incompetence or just plain laziness and the buck stops at Mr. Granger’s door because he is the Leader of the Majority in Parliament. It is he who has the mandate to marshal the troops on the issues. This is not the time for Mr. Granger to go AWOL on the people like he usually does. We call on Mr. Granger to wake up from his slumber and stand up to the corrupt administration before it is too late. Furthermore, his lacklustre performance during the past year is a clear signal to us that change in the leadership of APNU/PNC is urgently needed.
Local government elections, last held in 1994, were constitutionally due in 1999. Since 1999 upon the ascension to office of this Jagdeo/ Ramotar group, both the government and the opposition parties have been talking and talking, but there has been little forward movement on the local government elections. The main reason being the lack of political will from the PPP, and the opposition has been complying with the PPP’s elections agenda.
With Robert Corbin being the Leader of the Opposition during this period, that was quite understandable. But much difference in leadership, integrity and political vitality was expected from Mr. Granger and his inner disciples of well trained and disciplined ex-GDF officers. But to date, some 15 months after the political and parliamentary election results of 2011, the people have to put up with the most pathetic leadership in modern politics in Guyana and many have concluded that like Robert Corbin, this new APNU/PNC leadership appears to be marching to a PPP band. They have not been innovative or proactive in and out of Parliament. For many, their reactive posture is a clear indication that there is no opposition, but for others, if there is an opposition, then it is asleep and needs to be awakened.
President Donald Ramotar has made it clear he cannot hold local government elections until Parliament approves the reforms, including giving local governments more financial autonomy, and he is absolutely in order. But why it has taken over a decade to amend the outdated laws and hold the elections only the maker knows.
We call on APNU, especially the leader of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government Reform to assiduously conclude the deliberations on the reforms and present a bill to parliament so that Guyana can have renewal at the grass roots level.
As the Western Ambassadors quite clearly outlined earlier this year “there is no valid justification for further delay,” in local Government elections. This national shame and disgrace is primarily the fault of a reckless government, whose inept policies and lack of political commitment and limited legal expertise have resulted in this delay. However, the ball is now in the hands of APNU Member of Parliament, Mr. Basil Williams, who is being called upon today to lead and present a bill as soon as possible to save this nation from further international embarrassment.
There is no need for further delay. The people want local government elections now, this year; not next year.
Dr. Asquith Rose and
Harish S. Singh

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