Local Govt. Commission…Bulkan accused of interfering with PPP/C nomination process

Aug 17, 2016 News

As the establishment of the Local Government Commission draws nearer, the People’s Progressive Party

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

Civic is of the view that Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan is trying to interfere with the Party’s nomination process.
This was communicated to media operatives on Monday during a press conference held at Freedom House hosted by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee.
According to Rohee, Bulkan sent a letter asking whether the PPP/C had conducted consultations with the other parliamentary parties on their nominations.
The letter read, “Following is my reply in response to your letter of July 5, 2016. You are hereby requested to confirm that as required under Section 4(1) (b) of the Act, that there were consultations with other parliamentary parties leading to the submission of the three nominees.”
According to Rohee, he does not know of any other party which Bulkan expects the PPP/C to consult with in terms of the parliamentary parties. He said the names which his party submitted came directly from them as is provided for under the constitution.
Rohee asked: “Are we to consult with ourselves? Or are we to consult with APNU-AFC?”
Additionally, Rohee explained that in Bulkan’s letter he also asked for the details of the consultation process which PPP/C supposedly should have carried out with the other parliamentary parties.
Rohee believes this was an erroneous request, since there are only two political blocs in the House, and it would be wrong for the PPP/C to consult with APNU-AFC when choosing its three nominees. Rohee opined that Bulkan is “treading on dangerous ground” with his request.

PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee

“We don’t have six parties; we have a parliament with two parties, a bicameral…PPP/C and APNU-AFC. So when we looked around, we didn’t see anyone else who we should consult with. So we did what we had to do.”
Moreover, Rohee said that there is to be a member of the Commission appointed by the Minister after consultation with the local democratic organs.
The Commission will comprise eight members. Rohee explained further that the Board will comprise the one person Bulkan has to appoint, three appointed by President David Granger – acting in accordance with his own deliberate judgment – one from trade unions operating in the local government sector and three members appointed by the President acting on advice from the Leader of the Opposition.
It is the latter three members to which Rohee has expressed his party’s contention regarding Bulkan’s supposedly unnecessary interest.

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