He said the absence of those elections over this period impacted negatively on the development of the system of local governance.

Benn said that, amidst concerns and debates that the system of local governance was not producing the desired results, actions were taken to effect a series of reforms, including to reform the local government elections.

He reiterated that the enactment of new legislation will see the upcoming local government elections being conducted under a new system and the Local Government Elections (Amendment) Act 2009, which was promulgated, requires that certain structures be put in place to facilitate the conduct of the voting.

Benn repeated that the amendment states that elections shall be held in accordance with a mixed system and the order by Minister Lall, served on GECOM, stipulates the number of seats and constituencies which make up each local authority area.

He said the law gives it the authority to demarcate electoral boundaries and, in keeping with that mandate, GECOM, in consultation with stakeholders, completed the demarcation exercise in the 65 NDCs and six municipalities involved in the expected local government elections.

Benn said GECOM engaged in a series of preparatory engagements in order to ensure that the demarcation was conducted in an efficient and transparent manner.

Prior to embarking on the actual field exercise, GECOM conducted a series of activities, aimed at sensitising stakeholders about the process to be undertaken and the criteria to be used; equipping senior staff and registration offices with the knowledge to monitor the process and providing registration officers with the requisite know how to undertake the demarcation, he disclosed.