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A government that operates as a miscreant can deny the authority of local democratic organs

Apr 10, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
In a preview to its manifesto pledges for the upcoming general and regional elections, the PPP stated in relation to governance and more particularly local democracy, inter alia, the following: “We remain committed to inclusive and participatory governance, … We are committed to holding as early as possible Local Government Elections (LGE) to address all issues of local democracy, and expand the collaboration between local government bodies and community development groups.” The party’s statement goes on to say that (if reelected) it will see that LGE are held before June 2016 (‘PPP/C pledges to up corruption battle’, SN, April 6, 2015).
Why would anyone, however, want to believe anything that the PPP has to say regarding local democracy and local government? After all, in their manifesto for the 2011 elections they pledged that if reelected they would hold LGE within one year. The passing of time exposed that promise to be worthless and more hollow than a prostitute’s pledge of fidelity.
The PPP’s duplicity and hypocrisy, however, needs to be exposed. It needs to be recognized that while periodic LGE are a prerequisite to local democracy as defined by the Constitution, by and of itself, it is not a guarantee of same. A central government that is prepared to operate as a miscreant and one bent on domination and control can use its position to deny the authority of local democratic organs and thereby local democracy, as the PPP administration is guilty of.
A simple illustration ought to suffice to highlight the above. It relates to the Local Government Commission (LGC). The need for such a commission was identified by consensus in the 7th Parliament and following the upheaval accompanying the 1997 elections. It resulted in a new Constitutional provision being enacted in 2001, i.e. Article 78. A., dictating the establishment of a LGC, duly empowered to deal with “all matters related to the regulation and staffing of local government organs.”
Despite enjoying a parliamentary majority since 2001, legislation to bring into being a LGC had to wait for more than a decade with the Local Government Commission Act only coming into force on November 6, 2013. But wait, the PPP’s tricks was far from over, as the Act requires a ‘Commencement Order’ from the Minister of Local Government for it to come into operation! Another sixteen months has passed and this statutory body remains stillborn, a victim of a miscreant midwife.
How about another pledge from the PPP? On March 15, 2012, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker declared in Parliament that “We want to hold Local Government Elections today; tonight”! Yes, that was more than three years ago! Deceiving the public is now standard fare for the PPP and their Ministers.
Meantime, in the past three years Minister Whittaker and his discredited predecessor Ganga Persaud ruthlessly dismantled duly-elected local gov’t organs countrywide, replacing same with IMCs consisting largely of hand-picked cronies. Such is the respect that the PPP has for democracy in general and local democracy in particular. The PPP’s response to the USAID funded LEAD project makes an instructive case study in the fundamental disrespect and disregard that that party has for democracy and the role of civil society in national life. On December 12, 2012 the administration wrote US Ambassador Brent Hardt alluding to “dangers of (the) program”, one designed to strengthen parliament, boost engagement of young people and women in politics and in public life. Previously the Ramotar administration wrote to the diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy warning that Guyana was “under threat” as a result of what it called, the opposition’s parliamentary control and appealed for support!
The PPP are bullies and deceiving the public is second nature to them. No one believes them any longer. Local democracy and peoples’ constitutional right to manage and develop their villages, towns and regions, will only happen when the APNU+AFC administration assumes government following the May 11th elections.
Ronald Bulkan
APNU+AFC Coalition  

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