Granger declares protests for local govt. elections

Sep 19, 2014 News

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–    Calls on all “good citizens” to join in

By Abena Rockcliffe

Our quality of life will not improve unless we stand up against the further decline and degradation of our communities and stand up for our democratic institutions and values.  The demand for local government elections is a national necessity – a common cause. It is not a partisan project

Repetitively using three key words from the preamble of the Constitution—”We the People”—Opposition Leader,

David Granger yesterday issued an address to the nation, in which he detailed the “grave threat” that the Guyanese people are under and that the time has come for citizens to take all possible legal action to protect themselves.
“We (A Partnership for National Unity) have called on the President to simply set the date on which Local Government Elections will be held. He has not done so. We have therefore embarked on a campaign of lawful, orderly, peaceful public protests – including picketing, rallies and vigils – to raise public awareness of the threat to our collective rights. We call on all Guyanese to join this campaign to challenge the President to hold Local Government Elections without undue delay.”
Granger said that all “good people” must now demand their ‘inalienable’ right to elect the persons they want to represent them in their towns, villages and neighbourhoods.
He asserted that President Donald Ramotar and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration have tried every device to derail the legislative process and to delay local government elections, including not assenting to two Local Government Bills that were passed by the National Assembly and declining to issue the ‘Commencement Order’ to operationalise a third.
He said that Ramotar and the PPP “have no interest in conducting local government elections. They have no intention of complying with the mandate of the National Assembly. They have no inclination to deepen local democracy. They have no incentive to heed local and international opinion. They have no intention to respect the spirit and letter of our supreme law – the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”
The Opposition Leader said that the President needs to understand that Local Government Elections, like general and regional elections, are a constitutional necessity, hence he cannot postpone them indefinitely at his pleasure.
He pointed out that the President, by deliberately delaying the holding of local government elections, violates the Constitution which states that “Local Government is a vital aspect of democracy…”
Granger said that Ramotar is presiding over an “arrogant administration.” The Opposition Leader said that the government has systematically underfunded local democratic organs; undermined democratically-elected local councils; inhibited their development and impeded the provision of services to residents.

Granger pointed out as well, that the PPP administration has rendered 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and six town councils ineffectual. He said that the President’s attitude to local government has resulted in a near-total collapse in local governance.
“This is evident countrywide where our towns, neighbourhoods and villages suffer from unmanageable mountains of solid waste; unsanitary markets; unsightly surroundings and unlit and unsafe streets and alleyways,” said Granger.
Yesterday Granger sought to remind Ramotar that, six months ago, several foreign missions and local non-governmental organizations issued a joint statement expressing their collective hope that local government elections would be held by 1st August 2014. That statement was signed by the British High Commission; High Commission of Canada; Embassy of the United States of America; Berbice Chamber of Commerce; Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry; Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association; Guyana Trades Union Congress; Justice Institute; Private Sector Commission and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc.
The President has not assented to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill. He did assent to the Local Government Commission Bill but his appointed Minister of Local Government has not issued the ‘Commencement Order’ to operationalise the Commission.  Both bills were passed by the National Assembly on 7th August, 2013 thereby paving the way for elections to be held.  The President, also, has not assented to the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill which mandated that elections be held by 1st August 2014.

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