Local Government: Why You Should Be Involved

Jan 03, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
Local government is the system for managing and developing your community under the leadership of persons you choose from within your community. The leaders chosen by you to manage your community are called councillors. The body of councillors is called a council. There are presently seventy-one (71) such councils.
HOW ARE COUNCILLORS CHOSEN?
Councillors are elected in a local government election – being seventy-one (71) separate elections held on the same day. The next local government election will be held on March 18, 2016. Persons who wish to become councillors must be nominated by January 26, 2016.
WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS?
In general elections only political parties can present candidates. On the other hand, in local government elections, civic groups such as volunteer-groups, community groups, faith-based organisations and any other group can also field candidates. In fact, even an individual can contest as an independent candidate to become a councillor.
WHO CAN BE A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS?
Any Guyanese who is eligible to vote and lives in a particular constituency can be a candidate in his or her constituency, except the following categories of persons: Members of the National Assembly, Members of the armed forces, Local Government Officers, the Ombudsman, Director of Public Prosecutions, Election Officer, or Registration Officer.
WHAT IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM?
Local government organs are composed of towns commonly known as municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs). There are currently sixty-two NDCs and nine townships or municipalities. Each municipality or NDC is subdivided into a given number of constituencies which are specifically demarcated and defined parts of towns or villages. There are, in total, five hundred and eighty (580) such constituencies.
WHY IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPORTANT?
Local government allows citizens to participate in the decision-making process at the community level. Councils can identify the needs of citizens and deliver services in a more efficient way. Local government is about handing power to the people to manage their community’s affairs in a transparent and accountable manner. In the absence of local government some other body of persons will manage the affairs of your community and those persons will not have the same interest or knowledge in your community-affairs as you do, because you live there and they do not.
WHAT WORKS WOULD THE COUNCIL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING?
Local government is responsible for identifying and implementing needed projects such as building and maintaining roads, bridges, playgrounds, parks, sanitary landfills and other public property.
WHAT OTHER SERVICES CAN COUNCILS PROVIDE?
Local government is also responsible for garbage collection, cleaning of drains and parapets, protection of property, policing and provision of security for private citizens, provision of healthcare services, education, improving the environment, pest control, regulating noise nuisances, promoting tourism and sports, encouraging persons to become involved in community projects among many other services which will improve the quality of life in the community.
In other words, all the services necessary for members of the community to go about their daily lives.
HOW IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIFFERENT FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT?
National matters such as protecting our country’s borders, overseeing national security and formulating foreign policy are the responsibility of central government. On the other hand, local government, being located within the community, is better able to know exactly what is needed by the neighbourhood, and empowered to effectively fulfill those needs.
WHO CAN VOTE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ON MARCH 18, 2016?
Any registered voter who is eighteen (18) years old on February 29th 2016, and is either a citizen of Guyana, or a Commonwealth citizen resident in Guyana for at least one year, can vote.
WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS?
Because, by voting or being a candidate you will have the opportunity to choose who will make decisions that directly affect you. If you do not participate, other people will choose your community representatives and you will have no voice in the decision-making process. It is therefore important for you to take part. Your vote is your voice.
FROM WHERE DOES A LOCAL DEMOCRATIC ORGAN DERIVE ITS AUTHORITY?
The authority of local government is enshrined in the Constitution. Sections 12, 13, 74 and 75, specify and define the role of local government. The Constitution says, “Local government by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organization of the State.” Other laws specify what local government organs are supposed to do; the Municipal and District Councils Act and the Local Government Act govern the actions of town councils and NDCs, respectively.

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