NEIGHBOURHOOD Democratic Councils (NDCs) across the country could expect the release of 50 per cent of their subventions within two weeks once their plans have been approved by the Ministry of Communities, Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell has said. General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee had accused the government of having a policy to stifle PPP-controlled NDCs by withholding their subventions.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the permanent secretary explained that the ministry is currently reviewing all of the submissions made by the NDCs. He said once the work programmes are found to be in compliance with the statutory guidelines established by the ministry, approval will be granted and the local bodies will receive 50 per cent of their subvention.
The remaining 50 per cent, McGarrell further explained, will be released once more than 70 per cent of the work programme has been completed.
In view of the allegations made by the PPP, McGarrell emphasised that no particular group of NDCs is being singled out or victimised in this regard.
On Tuesday, Rohee alleged that more than 40 NDCs which were won by the PPP during the recent Local Government Elections are being stifled by the Administration.
“The NDCs are being financially stifled by the APNU+AFC coalition administration, thus preventing them from executing their functions in the interest of the people who elected the Council members to administer the affairs of their respective Local Authority Areas (LAAs),” Rohee told reporters at Freedom House.
“Residents in the affected NDCs are urgently awaiting the cleaning of trenches and canals. Works to be done to internal roads, environmental sanitation, maintenance issues and other civil works are badly needed in these communities,” he added.
Rohee said the party was concerned about the timing of the disbursement of monies to NDCs due to the fact that budget 2016 was approved since February.
According to him, the problem is further compounded by the Guyana Election Commission’s (GECOM’s) failure to bring an end to the deadlock affecting the six Local Authority Areas which do not have appointed leaders.
The elections held last March resulted in ties in six Local Authority Areas – the proposed town of Mabaruma and five (NDCs, namely Woodlands/Bel Air, Malgre Tout/Meer Zorgen, Gibraltar/Fyrish, Industry/Plaisance and Woodlands/Farm.
The Minister of Communities had made appointments of a Mayor for Mabaruma and chairpersons for the , but the High Court quashed the appointments.