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A DEFINING MOMENT AND VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE

Dec 11, 2015 Editorial, Features / Columnists

The long delayed Local Government Elections (LGE) slated for Friday March 18, 2016, in nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), will more than likely put an end to years of lawless behaviour by any administration.
In 2006, President Bharrat Jagdeo told the nation that in the next five years, his Government would work towards the political, economic and social transformation of the country in which everyone would have equal access to resources, and benefit from the economic development and improvement in social conditions. It did not happen for the masses, only for relatives and friends of the PPP leadership.
It was another empty promise by the PPP administration that was most deceptive. It became very clear to the citizens that the government had lacked the commitment to hold local government elections. The PPP totally disrespected the constitution and democracy. It was self-serving.
After being in office for only six months, the new government has decided to hold local government elections to make sure that all local elected officials are accountable to the taxpayers and the voters.
The NDCs and municipalities have had their fair share of corrupt practices, nepotism, and shoddy services. Many NDC members had wanted local government elections in order to hand over office to the younger generation, but the PPP would have none of it. That party had preferred to keep the malfunctioning local government system in place so that it could install Interim Management Committees (IMCs) dominated by those loyal to the party.
The long delay in holding LGE meant that all the councilors and Mayors have remained unelected; some have either resigned, died, or migrated. Those who remained or succeeded them have become unaccountable, which was a sure route to nepotism and corruption.
During the 2011 election campaign, PPP Presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, had promised the people that if elected, his government would hold local government elections within six months of his presidency. He also promised that his administration would pass a Bill in Parliament to reform the system and provide more resources to the NDCs and the municipalities. Elected to office with a minority government, Mr. Ramotar stubbornly refused to sign into law the local government Bill passed by the majority opposition.
Among other things, the Bill actually sought to correct the imbalance in the relationship between the central government and the local authorities. This was the sore point that led to the fundamental disagreements between the then opposition and the PPP administration on what that relationship should be.
The PPP had preferred a relationship in which the central government, through the subject minister, would maintain absolute veto over local governments, particularly on financial matters. The parties in the current coalition government have opted for a more democratic relationship, whereby the power of the municipalities would be increased, and that of the subject minister would be decreased.
This was one of several reasons that eventually forced the combined opposition to table the no-confidence motion in Parliament against the former government, which eventually led to fresh elections and the defeat of the PPP government.
It is important to note, that the Local Government Bill, which was vetoed by President Ramotar, was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the new parliament and assented to by President Granger.
The opposition PPP had boycotted Parliament during consideration and passage of the Bill following its defeat at the polls in the last election. The Bill not only made changes to the system, but it laid out the conditions for the holding of local government elections.
There was no valid justification for the lack of political commitment by the former administrations, and the consequent delay local Government elections for 18 years. It was shameful. The PPP cannot be proud of its record in office.

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