“Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for the Good Life”

Dec 23, 2018 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

---

(Excerpts from a statement in support of Budget 2019 by Hon. Ronald Bulkan MP)
The guiding philosophy of this administration’s approach to regional development, is to reduce the disparities between the living conditions and access to social services between our hinterland and coastland populations.
The overarching obligation of the Ministry of Communities in this context is to continuously provide necessary technical support toward the realisation of the strategic objective (s) of the core Programmes of Education, Public Health, Public Infrastructure and Agriculture.
Budget 2019 provides the sum of $39.322 billion for capital expenditure for the regions, representing an increase of approx. 16% over 2018. There have been increases for every region and in every sector, i.e. Public Health, Education, Public Infrastructure, Agriculture and Administration. These resources will empower our regions to better utilise the strategic advantages in unlocking the potential for innovation, growth, development and diversification of regional economies.
One area of great significance is the regional agricultural programme which is new to the regions. This programme has been responsible for stimulating agricultural production, aquaculture and with it, job creation.
Budget 2019 constructively references the Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD). The PARDs are critical in ensuring bottom-up, consultative led regional development. Communities and their desires will be accounted for by regional democratic councils in their decisions for regional development.
The introduction of the PARDs, and its related processes has heightened the demand for capacity and institutional building support, in areas such as the establishment of planning and procurement units to support PARD formulation, management, Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) implementation, and other catalytic development initiatives of the regions.
The regional development agenda is also guided by the principle of expanded participation in decision making to enable the regions to be effective, in keeping with the policy of decentralisation. With this objective in view, the Ministry will focus on strengthening the capacities of regional structures to be better able to provide sustainable development-related services; the institutionalisation of the Regional Agriculture and Commercial Exhibitions and other mechanisms such as the Regional Development Consultative Committee and NRDCC.
The Leader of the Opposition is of the view that the 2019 budget came up short on plans for the emerging sector. Clearly, he did not give serious consideration to what was presented; not unusual I would observe. Budget 2019 has clearly articulated the vision of the government; a vision which resides with the people; the removal of a centralised decision-making model to one of community participation and cooperation that will enhance local economic development and self-determination.
These reported claims are preposterous and unfortunate, considering the fact that local government stagnation occurred under the previous administration (the PPP), when and where the concept of local governance was virtually non-existent.
The Leader of the Opposition even had the audacity to say and I quote, “it’s a disappointing budget that did not fulfil a single one of the objectives that would be important to the well-being of our people.”
If the Opposition Leader was really concerned about the well-being of Guyanese people, then he would not have encouraged elected local leaders to not participate in rebuilding the system which will only redound to their benefit and communities at large.
Suggesting that the 2019 budget is “tone deaf” is a deliberate attempt at undermining the empowerment of our people; of undermining the empowerment of constituencies, and is perhaps the best example of the “lack of vision”.
The campaign of the opposition for the just concluded local government elections represented a display of ironies and contradictions. The irony being that all across the country candidates were stating, “citizen participation”, “greater accountability”, “community involvement in identification, planning and execution of projects within your area”, emanating from a party (the PPP) of Interim Management Committees and the non-holding of LGE for 22 years.
Then came the contradictions, “No New taxes”, while simultaneously committing to “working towards better infrastructure including: Roads, drainage, bridges, and maintenance of recreation facilities etc.”
How more divorced from reality can we get? Every citizen of this land is aware that the major constraint to councils delivering quality services, is the limited resources at their disposal. These pronouncements represent the philosophy of the opposition for local governance, of control, for he who pays the piper calls the tune.
Candidates prior to the election and the convening of a council to deliberate on the community interest and priorities were emphatic; we will NOT be doing such and such; Why? Because they are in receipt of instructions from Robb Street NOT to exercise their constitutional right to autonomy and to develop their own programmes.
This is the fundamental difference between the PPPC and the APNU + AFC Coalition; we (APNU+AFC) have no inclination to instruct duly elected representatives of communities. They have a mandate from the voters in their respective jurisdictions and it for them to execute it without fair or favour, for the benefit of their constituents.

PARTICIPATION, INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
In 2019, institutional strengthening, capacity building, community participation and financial autonomy will be key in consolidating and entrenching the local government agenda and ensuring sustainability. Continuing public education will serve as the vehicle for community involvement in local government jurisdictions.
I wish to remind members that prior to the enactment of the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2013 and the Local Government (Amendment) Act No. 5 of 2015, local democratic organs (LDOs) were required to seek Ministerial approval to conduct a significant amount of their daily affairs.
These legislative amendments reduce the Minister’s role, allowing for greater management of LDOs by the elected representatives.
The Ministerial authority exercised previously is significantly curtailed, thus allowing organs to function autonomously to a greater extent. These changes reduce the chances of interference by the central government in the daily affairs of LDOs and duly empowers the organ. “Empowering People”. This is why this budget can make this boast.
Work continued in 2018 on strengthening the institution of local government and to build capacity for the delivery of effective, efficient and ethical services. In the area of financial management, an Action Round Table for Municipal Financial Management was conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Office to help councils better manage their finances.
The 2018 subvention programme is fully disbursed in accordance with the Fiscal Transfer Act and organs are focused on completing the programme by end of 2018. Government has also signed a $26.2M contract to execute a pilot in New Amsterdam for the modernization of the property assessment and valuation system. This is the first part of a national assessment that will enhance the Valuation Division’s capacity to provide more effective valuation services to the LDOs.

---

---