Latest update March 29th, 2025 5:11 AM
NDCs need to improve on financial accountability and transparency – Minister Whittaker
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
flanked by representatives of RDCs
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, is calling for higher financial accountability and transparency with regard to how Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and Local Government departments are run.
The Minister was, on Friday addressing NDC overseers and assistant overseers from across the country, at a capacity building workshop held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Minister Whittaker highlighted the responsibility that NDCs across the country have in engaging members of their communities. He explained that there is a perception that NDCs do not properly utilise public funding to the benefit of community members.
Minister added that in order to meet the demands of a 21st century community, the role of councils is to work towards expanding their services, while sustaining the quality of what they offer.
In addition to outlining the NDCs responsibility to the overseers, Whittaker elaborated on the reluctance the public sometimes feel toward local government. He noted that the reason for this is due to a common perception that NCDs do not “reach out to people enough”.
According to the Local Government Minister, this has led to poor financial accountability and is considered a failure on part of certain NDCs. He explained that greater transparency between NDCs and the public is needed for development to continue. “A lot of criticisms (NDCs receive) are premised on the view that they are not accounting for the resources the people provide,” said the Minister, “therefore we must put this information in the public domain.”
He affirmed that it is the duty of NDCs to engage their community members and make them aware of the procedures of running public services.
Furthermore, the official remarked that there were improvements in financial accountability over the past year. He also commended some of the NDCs that have embraced what is called a “public day”. These are days whereby overseers make themselves available to the public in order to hear and address concerns by community members.
However, he said that such an exercise was practiced by less than 50 percent of the 65 NDCs across Guyana. The Local Government Minister reiterated that in order for NDCs to be successful they must be willing to corporate with their respective constituents and provide the necessary information which they have a right to.
“Let us account for the people’s money,” concluded Whittaker in his address.
Representatives from the Regional Democratic Council for each of the 10 Administrative Regions in Guyana also presented their budgets for the coming year.
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