Latest update January 25th, 2025 7:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Clinton Urling says Vincent Alexander is wrong

Mar 14, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I must commend the Granger administration for establishing a precise date for Local Government Elections (LGE) and equally congratulate GECOM for the organization and hosting of LGE on March 18.
While citizens will go to the polls to elect councilors in geographical locations that have Municipalities, not many quite understand the structure, role and functions of the municipalities and other organs that comprise the entire local government system.  This is so because we have a very outdated and cumbersome local government system.
From my interactions with many citizens in Georgetown, there is a belief that the system allows for direct voting for a mayor who has broad responsibilities for the effective administration of the municipality under his/her control.
Recently, and as a result of public edification campaigns, it is becoming more known that the Council, which is elected by the people, elects the mayor subsequent to LGE. Another striking assumption being peddled by the citizenry is the belief that the mayor is in charge of the executive and administrative arm (makes decisions on hiring employees, supervises and coordinates departments, and implements decisions by the council) of the municipalities and anything that goes wrong, the mayor is to be blamed and held accountable.
In Guyana, this is not the case; we have what is called a ‘weak-mayor’ system and is mostly a ceremonial position with he/she having little or no formal authority outside the Council.  Our current Council-Manager system resides executive and administrative functions to the Town Clerk, who acts essentially as the CEO of the municipality while the council is akin to a Board of Directors of a corporation, largely responsible for policy making and oversight. In this structure the mayor is the Chairman of the board.
Additionally, and making the system more cumbrous, is the Local Government Commission (LGC) which has responsibilities, among others, to deal with all matters relating to employment and dismissals of employees of local government organs.
This seminal responsibility of effective management and accountability of those elected mayor or hired as town clerk resides in an external body.  So, if an instance arises that the Town Clerk has lost confidence in an employee under his/her charge, he or she can only bring a case for dismissal to the Commission. Similarly, the mayor or elected council cannot hire or fire the town clerk. This is a recipe for disaster, which we have seen manifested over the years.
In contrast to the sentiments expressed by Mr. Vincent Alexander that the LGC would reduce conflict and interference from central government once appointed (SN March 13), I believe that what we would see is merely an exchange of authority from Minister to the Commission, which members would be selected in majority by the President of Guyana and his Communities Minister.
The President can simply chose members whose loyalty is to his government. It is my hope that after this elections, our parliamentary representative would see the wisdom in reforming the entire system to make it simpler and modeled after the ‘strong-mayor’ or Mayor-Council system where the mayor is directly elected, and dismissed, by the people and has wide administrative authority.
The oversight functions will reside with council.  Such a system is more representative of a peoples’ democracy and it also fulfils their expectations of the mayor of the municipality.
Clinton Urling

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 24th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Hayley Matthews and Sherfane Rutherford named in ICC ODI Teams of the Year

Hayley Matthews and Sherfane Rutherford named in ICC ODI Teams of the...

Jan 25, 2025

SportsMax – After producing some stellar performances in 2024, it comes as no surprise that West Indies’ Hayley Matthews and Sherfane Rutherford were named in the ICC Women’s and Men’s...
Read More
Future of West Indies Cricket To Take Centre Stage at CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados

Future of West Indies Cricket To Take Centre...

Jan 25, 2025

Bounty/Antonio’s Grill One Day Season Opener set for tomorrow

Bounty/Antonio’s Grill One Day Season Opener...

Jan 25, 2025

Former Upper Demerara Football Administrator and Coach to be buried today in Linden

Former Upper Demerara Football Administrator and...

Jan 25, 2025

Statistician Charwayne Walker expresses appreciation for former footballer Birdette Marshall

Statistician Charwayne Walker expresses...

Jan 25, 2025

BCB U15 LCSS ALUMNI Association inter zone U15 Competition begins today in Berbice

BCB U15 LCSS ALUMNI Association inter zone U15...

Jan 25, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]