Latest update May 5th, 2026 12:35 AM
Latest News
- Soldier shot in river ambush
- Five years later Govt. still to settle US$214M audit dispute with Exxon
- Oil prices jump 6% as Iran sets UAE oil port ablaze, strikes vessels in Strait of Hormuz
- U.S. and Iran escalate attacks in Strait of Hormuz
- Guyana defends sovereignty at ICJ against Venezuela’s claims
PPP should support legislation to empower local organs
Dear Editor,
Local Government Elections are some 21 years overdue and must be held at the earliest. However, before elections are held, both the APNU-AFC combined and the PPP must fulfill their manifesto promise to empower the local bodies.
They committed to decentralizing power away from Georgetown and to the local organs. That promise must be fulfilled.
Power belongs to the people and through the local bodies the people are in the best position to exercise power. The Central Government is “more distant” from the people than the local bodies which are in a better position to address the direct needs of the people bodies.
Thus, the people through the local organs should be directly responsible for their own affairs and be entrusted with power over most community (local security, education, culture, etc.) and domestic affairs within their respective jurisdictions (NDCs). The national government should be in charge over national (defense, emergency) and international affairs.
In this way, people will exercise a greater interest in the governance of the country as is the case in the US, Canada, England, Australia, etc.
Dr. Jagan had committed to shifting power from the Central Government to the Local Governments. But because of his untimely death, his commitment was not executed and his successors have not pursued his dreams to empower the people. Instead, they sought to further centralize power for their own self-interests.
The PPP leadership should pressure the ruling coalition to enact legislation to transfer power to the local bodies – give them power to run their own community affairs (with their own budgets and power to tax, police, etc.) as happens in the US, Canada, India, England, etc. Countries that empower their population through decentralization of power have made enormous progress and experience development. Peoples’ lives are transformed through local empowerment. Globally, Central Governments are not trusted and they tend to abuse their power. A Central Government with limited power is best for any nation. That should be the goal for Guyana. And the people have expressed such an interest over the last several decades, but politicians are unwilling to empower the people.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo served briefly as Local Government Minister after his law studies, and as such, is familiar with the issues confronting the Ministry as well as people’s needs. He should lead the charge to reform Local Government, giving powers to the people to manage their own affairs (with their own budget) through local organs.
The PPP should support such legislation.
Vishnu Bisram
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.