…had breached requirements in submitting initial list

THE David Granger-led administration on Wednesday blamed the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), for the delay in the establishment of the Local Government Commission (LGC), one year after the Local Government Elections (LGE) were held.

President David Granger disclosed that his administration is working on the early establishment of the Local Government Commission. Asked why the Commission has not been constituted, President Granger was adamant that there was no failure on the part of his government. “We have not failed…we are working on that,” he told reporters at State House.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, further explained that Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was required to submit a list of nominees to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, a task he fulfilled. Bulkan in response to the Opposition Leader, indicated that he needed to be apprised of the basis upon which the names he (Jagdeo) submitted were chosen.
“The requirement is that the leader of the opposition consults with the political parties in the National Assembly before a list is created and submitted to the Minister. I believe now that the Leader of the Opposition has actually written to the political parties in the National Assembly requesting a meeting at the last sitting of the National Assembly. At that meeting, representatives from the political parties met with him and they are working as to how that list is to be constructed. The ball is in his court right now,” explained Harmon.
Meanwhile, in January, Minister Bulkan told reporters at a press conference that the process of establishing the Local Government Commission has been stymied by the non-adherence of Jagdeo to the requirements stated in the Local Government Legislation.
“Under the legislation, the (names of) persons submitted need (to) be (done) following consultations by the Leader of the Opposition with the other parties in the National Assembly. Not being aware of the fulfillment of that requirement, I sought clarification from the opposition’s Chief Whip who had written to me with the names supplied by the Leader of the Opposition,” said Bulkan.

As a result, the process cannot move forward. The Constitution provides for the establishment of a Local Government Commission to deal with all matters relating to local government organs, and dispute resolution. Earlier this month, Stabroek News reported that Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, had reportedly informed Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, that he would be unavailable to meet on the nominees for the Commission.
The PPP has since said it wrote General Secretary of the APNU, Joseph Harmon, and Ramjattan, asking that they be present for a meeting to be held during the first break of the June 15, sitting of the National Assembly. It was reported in July 2016 that Jagdeo had chosen former Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Carol Sooba, and former Ministers of Local Government, Norman Whittaker, and Clinton Collymore, as his three nominees for the Commission.

In 2013, the Bill to create the Commission was passed in the National Assembly and gives it the power to monitor and review the performance and implementation of policies of all local government organs, including policies of taxation and protection of the environment.
The Commission is also empowered to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of all local government organs in order to promote effective local governance; investigate any matter under its purview and propose remedial action to the Minister, whenever or wherever necessary; monitor and review all existing and proposed legislation, and or policies and measures relating to local government organs and to make recommendations for any legislation or any amendments to any legislation and or policy to the Minister; and examine and propose ways of enhancing the capacity of local government organs. Local Government Elections were held in Guyana on March 18, 2016 after a two-decade hiatus. As a result, three new towns were also named, Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem; bringing the total towns to nine.