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Local Government Commission Act non-operational
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is yet to issue the commencement order for the establishment of the Local Government Commission.
This is inhibiting Leader of the Opposition from providing names of nominees to sit on the Commission, according to Ronald Bulkan, Shadow Local Government Minister and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Member of Parliament.
He was responding to a query about why the Opposition has not yet provided the names of its nominees.
He said that Leader of the Opposition, Brig David Granger has to nominate the three persons for approval from President Donald Ramotar to sit on the Commission.
But, Norman Whittaker, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, said that the Ministry does not have to signal to the Opposition to submit the names of nominees. He said from the inception when the Bill was assented to by Ramotar the Opposition should have submitted the names.
Incidentally, Government has not yet nominated anyone to sit on the Commission. Whittaker assured that Government is currently looking at some names. But, he is hopeful that the Local Government Commission would be established by December.
Bulkan did not take lightly to the Minister’s comments. He said that Whittaker is being deceptive and evasive. “It is regrettable that the Minister is playing cat and mouse with the public. He should be respectful to the public instead of trampling on local democracy,” he added.
According to Whittaker, the Local Government Commission Bill was assented to by Ramotar and is not operational as yet. The Ministry has to give the go ahead for the enactment of the legislation.
For the Commission to come into being it requires staffing; the Opposition and Government have to provide the names of nominees; and chairperson of the Commission has to be appointed.
When the Local Government Commission comes into being it would limit the Minister’s powers.
In November 2013, Ramotar assented to the Local Government Commission Act along with the Fiscal Transfers Act, and the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act.
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