Local Govt. Elections for November 12

Jul 20, 2018 News

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has announced that this year the Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held on November 12.

He made the announcement while addressing the National Toshaos Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal earlier this week.

Bulkan had earlier announced that Government has allocated $2.9 billion towards ensuring the elections are held. The Ministry of Communities had also embarked on a campaign to increase the public education on the functions of the Local Government.

“The public education will serve as the vehicle for more meaningful community involvement in the management and decision making of LG jurisdictions to support growth, and sustainable development of LG spaces.”

According to Bulkan, the planned LGE in 2018, will mark the first time in Guyana’s post-independence history that consecutive local government elections would have taken place when legally due.

He noted that the Government will take steps to deliver on its promise through multiple initiatives, including public education on constitutional and legal provisions for LDOs on the authority and responsibilities; developing model/policy direction to empower LDOs to manage the economic space and develop in partnership with national government.

Additionally, steps will be taken to strengthen the Guyana Association Municipalities to provide effective service to all municipalities.

“These include the institutionalization of the National Regional Development Consultative Committee (NRDCC), the Regional Development Consultative Committee (RDCC), and the Regional Agricultural and Commerce Exhibition (RACE); mechanisms which are designed to promote entrepreneurship, investment, partnership and collaboration between and among stakeholders/agencies within a development space.”

The Minister explained that promoting community engagement and participation, both elected and unelected components in all facets of LG operations, by training councillors and residents – in local economic development facilitation, community consultation, project management training, financial management and regulations, waste management, disaster preparedness, are also part of the plan.