By Ravin Singh

AS THE political atmosphere slowly intensifies with overdue Local Government Elections just weeks away, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, is of the view that although these elections are costly, they represent an investment in good governance and respect for the rights of citizens. Bulkan made this declaration in the National Assembly last evening during his presentation at the 2016 budget debates. In six weeks, LGE, which has been overdue for 18 years, will be held for 9 townships and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC). Installed will be 71 new councils, which according to Bulkan will be accompanied by the new philosophy that sees central government providing support, as opposed to seeking to dictate and dominate the affairs of local government organs. “The hand of control has been replaced with the hand of collaboration and cooperation,” the Minister said.

Firm in his tone, Bulkan highlighted that the crisis conditions which currently characterize towns and villages will be replaced by community renewal in which people are allowed to practise their constitutional right to manage and develop their areas. The fresh approach to community management, he noted, will see partnership, not partisanship; respect, not a desire to dominate.

“The present rotten local government system will be rehabilitated. The degeneration of our communities will give way to rebirth and renewal when local leaders are elected and allowed to make decisions on those areas that directly affect their well-being,”
the Minister told the House.

But according to Bulkan, each of the 10 administrative regions must be prepared to accept the challenge offered by the government and begin to take more ownership of their areas. Regions, he charged, must ensure that the bountiful natural and other resources that they are endowed with are used to attract investments, create jobs, and contribute to improving living standards; raise people’s quality of life, and bring about development.

He reiterated that the Ministry of Communities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other agencies local and international, are providing support to regional administrations in their task of creating their development programmes, also known as a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).

The constitution, he said, provides for each region to craft its own development programme, a charge given to Regional Chairpersons at the time of their swearing-in by President Granger.

Additionally, the Communities Minister reflected on the President’s remarks that strong regions will lead to a strong nation. “Meaningful support will continue to be provided to the RDCs in equipping them to exploit their potential for the benefit of their residents,” he said.

After 21 years, the long overdue Local Government Elections have been set for March 18, 2016. The elections were last held in 1994, even though the constitution clearly stipulates that they should be held every three years.

Prior to being re-elected to executive office in 2011, the then PPP Government had committed to holding the elections within a year. However, subsequent to securing a victory at the polls, talks on the possible hosting of LGE at that time had ceased, and it was only in 2014 that the APNU and AFC, separate in nature then, intensified their campaigns for the PPP to host the elections.