-during recent visit to Region Nine
THE hosting of Local Government elections is critical to ensuring that citizens’ needs are adequately met and community development is fostered, Minister Kellawan Lall said Government has been working to ensure that these elections are held this year.

During a three-day visit to Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), Mr. Lall – who is the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development and his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sewchan, updated representatives of the Ireng/Sawariwau Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on the status of the Local Government elections.

The team was accompanied by Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Donald Gajraj and other regional officers.

At present many NDCs are not functioning due to the lack of local government elections. This has resulted in a breakdown in governance at the local level.

 “We need this renewal,” Minister Lall emphasised, during the meeting with the representatives in the Conference Room at the Regional Guest House, Lethem.

“Not that we want to remove officers, but the system needs the full complement to have more effective management,” the Minister explained.

Government is expecting to have Local Government elections by November 30 this year. The Local Government Task Force has been terminated due to the unwillingness of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), to cooperate with Government to ensure that the necessary legislations are in place for the hosting of the elections.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), has already indicated its readiness to host the elections and to accommodate the new reform process. Most of the ground works for the hosting of the election have been completed.

With the new reform, the system of electing representatives will be different. Half of the seats will now be elected through the electoral system. On advising the officers of the new process, Minister Lall said, that every NDC will be divided into wards and explained that the Elections Commission is working on that aspect.

On the part of the executive, the Minister said they need to pass the new legislation. These include: the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2008, the Fiscal Transfers Bill 2008 and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill.

Other areas of discussions included regularizing housing in the Region and the RDC entering into economic projects. (GINA)