Latest update February 11th, 2025 7:29 AM
Latest News
- ExxonMobil paying taxes in Bahamas but not a cent to Guyana
- Canadian company completes airstrip, roads to kick off 5.4M ounce gold project in Guyana
- Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of ceasefire deal
- Twelve-year-old girl missing for three weeks
- Guard shot as bandits attack Cummings Lodge supermarket
Staff of the Local Government Commission yet to receive January salaries —issue likely to hamper work of the committee
As of January 31, 2019, the staff of the Local Government Commission (LGC) and its Commissioners have not been paid their salaries. Officials say that the issue is likely to hamper the operations of the duly constituted body.
While Chairman of the Commission, Mortimer Mingo, commented on the matter, acknowledging that there may be difficulty as a result of the lack of payment, he declined to speak further on the issue.
However, former Local Government Minister and Commissioner, Norman Whittaker, has issued a statement detailing his concerns over the non-payment.
Whittaker accused officials attached to the Ministry of Communities of promoting an insidious parallel administration aimed at interfering with the work of the Commission by way of unauthorized interventions and directives.
“As at January 31, 2019, the staff of the Local Government Commission and its Commissioners have not been paid their salaries because the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities has either unilaterally decided or has been directed not to sign the cheque to facilitate such payment.”
According to Whittaker, the issue not only stymies the work of the LGC but also denies Commission staff the benefits to which they are entitled and which are provided for in the Commission A
Former LGC Norman Whittaker
ct and other subsidiary Legislation.
“The Local Government Commission is rooted in the bowels of the Constitution of Guyana (Refer Article 78A of the Constitution); and is specifically provided for under the Local Government Commission Act No.18 of 2013.
The LGC commissioner noted, too, that the law provides for the LGC to independently manage its affairs within the ambit of the Constitution and the Local Government Commission Act.
“In this regard also, we are aware and do appreciate the requirement of accountability to the National Assembly.
Sections 22, 23, 24 of the Local Government Commission Act 2013 allows the Commission to, inter alia, (a) employ necessary staff and to determine their remuneration and “other terms and Conditions of employment (b) determine its “own annual budget” for submission to the Minister of Finance and approval of the National Assembly…”
However, according to Whittaker, the Local Government Commission is being treated as a subvention agency and is required inter alia, to write to the Ministry for releases to meet approved expenditures.
“It is our understanding that Constitutional Commissions like the Local Government Commission are required to function within their annual Budget approved in the National Assembly and subject to the same regulations as other Budget Agencies.”
The Permanent Secretary’s refusal to sign the cheque to facilitate the payment of staff salaries of the Commission’s staff and its Commissioners for January 2019 must be a faux pas, which we place in the public purview with the expectation that it be corrected by the Minister and his Permanent Secretary,” he added.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Are we better off today than we were before first oil?
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-If you had asked me ten years ago what I wanted for Guyana, I would have said a few things:... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
