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City Hall concerned about non assent to “essential” Local Government Bill

Nov 09, 2013 News

 

 
The Mayor and City Council (MCC) has joined the main opposition party, APNU, to express dissatisfaction at the President’s non-assent to the “essential” Local Government Bill.
This Bill will facilitate the quality reform desired to make local government bodies more functional.
During a press briefing yesterday, Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green, cited the importance of the Local Government Amendment Bill.
“The Local Government Amendment Bill has the power to relieve the Local Government Ministers of their imperial powers, barring them from dissolving Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and micro-managing the council.
“On condition the Amendment Bill is signed into law the Ministers will no longer have control over the management of the regional bodies, allowing it to function smoothly.
“We are concerned and anxious for Local Government elections… we believe that it is not fair to the young people in particular, who never had the opportunity to participate democratically, in the direct appointment of the Government of their respective communities.”
On Wednesday, President Donald Ramotar signed three of the four Local Government bills into law, three months after they were passed in the National Assembly.
Addressing the media, following the assent, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon explained that the President had given his assent to the Fiscal Transfers Act, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act, and the Local Government Commission but did not give assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill.  He assumed that in time the President would give his assent to the fourth Bill.
The main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity, (APNU), subsequently described the President actions as a method to frustrate the holding of elections and defer the reform of the Local Government system.
The move, APNU said, confirmed and reinforced the public perception about the ruling party. APNU opined that the President’s non-assent confirms the view that the PPP wishes to retain the archaic colonial powers now vested in the Minister of Local Government.
According to APNU, “The Local Government (Amendment) Bill asserts the autonomy of the Local Democratic organs and as such, addresses the very essence of Local democracy.”
It was noted that the PPP intention to impose Regional Executive Officers into the Principal Act (28: 02) was rejected in Committee.
The Local Government Commission Bill No. 13/2012 seeks to establish the Local Government Commission, to provide for the Commission’s functions and procedure, and for connected and incidental purposes.
The Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012 determines how monies are allocated to the various Neighborhood Democratic Councils, (NDCs) and local Municipalities. This bill also seeks to enhance the financial independence of the councils.
The Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2012 seeks to modify the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01 modifying the arrangement for town councils.

 

 

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