Community development organisations and local democracy (Part 1)

Apr 24, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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By Hon. Joseph Harmon, Minister of State
The holding of local government elections, after a hiatus of nearly twenty years was a watershed moment in Guyana. It has now strengthened our democracy by restoring the power into the hands of the people, where it should be. Everyone who

claims to have the peoples’ interests at heart must respect the pre-eminence of the will of the people.
Those of us who believe in equitable development of our people have a clear understanding of the fundamental and foundational role of Community Development Councils.
These councils must be established to strengthen bonds; foster social cohesion and promote development within communities. These councils must develop programmes that identify and address community needs such as caring for the vulnerable, enhancing the environment and promoting economic development.
It is no secret that many Guyanese live in poverty. This has to be addressed and your government recognises the fundamental and pivotal role that Community Development Councils must play in this regard. Collectively we have to lift each other up. The collective language we speak and actions we take must be directed to equal development across all communities, districts and regions in this dear land of ours.
We are all aware that our communities are made up of a variety of competing and complementary interests and our community development councils must ensure that all of these interests are served through their programmes and activities. The structural arrangements and governance model of the Community Development Councils, therefore, must stand the scrutiny and facilitate the involvement of all concerned.
As a consequence, there must now be a renewed focus on and a review of the role that community-based organisations must play in promoting community development.
Their role must now accommodate all political, economic, social, cultural and psychological tendencies to deliver on the all-round needs of the citizens they serve. Their role must also be seen as being inextricably intertwined and bound up with the development of the individual, the family and the community as a whole.
All of these interventions must be made within the context of achieving the seventeen sustainable development goals and the one hundred and sixty-nine targets outlined in the United Nations sustainable development goals and are critical for us as a developing country.
THE NEXUS BETWEEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD DEMOCRATIC COUNCILS
There needs to be created, strong links between community-based organisations and their respective neighbourhood democratic councils.
The local government system as is presently structured comprises, for the most part, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils that form the first direct link with central government to deliver on specific government programmes. Community Development Councils however, with their more direct connection to the people, have the advantage of better understanding their issues, being more closely connected to them and consequently, are better placed to be responsive to their needs.
Your government will therefore ensure that Community Development Councils are adequately supported to ensure their success while encouraging their close collaboration and co-operation with Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to foster true and real development of our communities.
BUILDING CAPACITY
Given the role that Community Development Councils must play in community development, it is necessary that they develop the capacity to fulfil that role. In this regard, government will facilitate and/or provide training opportunities and institute an enhanced programme of capacity building every step of the way. This will include such areas as leadership, management, personal development, and entrepreneurship.
Our people must be supported to be independent. Government cannot see everything and do everything. Government should support the citizenry to help themselves and develop their communities.
In this regard, I am heartened by the steps taken thus far to commit resources to nineteen Community Development Councils. We will continue this process directly and by other intervention methods until the needs of all communities across our country are met.
CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES TO OUR DEVELOPMENT
Meaningful community development can only take place in an enabling environment. Community Development Councils must therefore seek to create such an environment. They must therefore be in the forefront in the fight against poverty, social deprivation, crime, and school drop-outs, the scourge of the drug culture and all other social ills and evils.
The councils must also seek to create this enabling environment by building social resilience and social capital while promoting a culture of “giving back to the community”.
WEALTH CREATION IN THE COMMUNITY
We must use the experience and acumen of the business community to contribute to wealth creation in the community.
Corporate social responsibility must be encouraged to create linkages between the business persons within the communities and the Community Development Councils to transfer business knowledge and experience to contribute to the growth and the creation of wealth in those communities. This will contribute to job creation and developmental opportunities for all, especially our youth.
In addition, communities vested with natural, agricultural and other resources must be encouraged to seek investments both locally and internationally to promote their local economy. In this regard links with Guyanese in the Diaspora are critical. There are many Guyanese in the Diaspora who possess financial resources, maintain links with their “home communities’ and are looking for opportunities to invest. They should be sought out, engaged and encouraged.
Competition between communities should also be encouraged to give impetus and energy to community development. This can be developed between communities with similar natural resources or similar product output and can be in areas such as product quality or production targets.

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