THE Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill which sought to amend the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to provide for the postponement of elections of councillors of local democratic organs was passed at last Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Kellawan Lall, in whose name the Bill was moved, told the House that Local Government Elections will not be held this year but will be run off next year before December 1.

Lall pointed out that the last Local Government Election was held in 1994 and over the years many office holders have died or either migrated.

This situation, the Minister said, has resulted in less efficient delivery of services at the local level such as maintenance of drainage and irrigation, community streets, construction of houses and other facilities.

Lall stressed the need for renewal of the ways in which these matters are handled at the community level and disclosed that he has been advised that the Election Commission will be established in the first quarter of next year and the framework for national registration will be completed in the second quarter.

People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) member, Basil Williams, lamented that the Local Government Election has been postponed yet again in light of many defunct offices at that level.

He also called for an active public awareness campaign on the Local Government Reform system.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) parliamentarian and former Human Services and Social Security Minister, Bibi Shadick said the government wants Local Government Election and it was never their intention to put it off.

She was also quick to point out that the Local Government Task Force took eight years instead of eight months and still did not complete the legislation for the holding of the elections.

“It either has to be their way or no way,” Ms. Shadick told the National Assembly and stressed too that members of the opposition were absent from the Special Select Committee meetings.

However, PNCR-IG Parliamentarian, Lance Carberry, said the situation was the opposite, pointing out that the PPP members of the Task Force were adamant in their position.

He also assured the House that his party is totally committed to the hosting of Local Government Elections as this is the way forward to have a local democracy.

Regarding Carberry’s statements on the Task Force, PPP Parliamentarian Ms. Gail Teixeira said the PNCR believes that by repeating an erroneous mantra over and over again it will become fact but contended that this flies in the face of the truth.

Ms. Teixeira reported that consultation on the Fiscal Transfer Bill has started and despite the PNCR members’ absence from these committee meetings, related Bills on the elections are still brought before the House.

The PPP Parliamentarian who is also Adviser to the President on Governance said when the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) completes it work, the elections will be held.

“That is the role of GECOM,” she said and informed the National Assembly that her party stands ready for the moment.

Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, in a brief but concise presentation, accused the PPP and the PNCR of trying to subvert local democracy by blaming and casting aspersions on the other for the delay in the election.

This tussle, he said is ongoing for the deliberate purpose of control, and on that note urged that the two major parties reach a compromise so that local democracy will prevail.