THE National Assembly has approved the passage of the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2012, after hours of rigorous debate during its Thursday’s sitting. The Bill was passed to amend the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to provide for postponement of the election of councillors of Local Democratic Organs (LDCs) until completion of the reform process.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Ganga Persaud, in whose name the Bill was tabled, told the House that the local government elections could not have taken place last year because of the constitutional requirement of hosting general and regional elections.
Dissolution of the House in September last year to facilitate the hosting of the general elections prevented the amendment from being presented to the House in the last quarter of 2011.
Minister Persaud assured the House that notwithstanding the delay, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) remains committed to aggressively pursuing holding local government elections in order to produce a more effective local administration, with replenishment of the leadership of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities under the new local government system.
Minister Persaud reiterated the importance of local government elections, as is stated in the PPP/C Manifesto, wherein it gave its assurance that local government elections would be held within one year of the 2011 General Elections, to bring much-needed reinvigoration into local government entities.
Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Norman Whittaker, who also deliberated on the Bill, emphasised the importance of local government elections to the democracy of the grassroots in Guyana.
Former Labour Minister, Manzoor Nadir, who also deliberated on the Bill, told the House that the process had been stymied for years, mainly because of the actions of the opposition; and more specifically, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Ronald Bulkan, who rose to promulgate his party’s argument, stated that the minister had ignored the most fundamental reforms, which had been identified as necessary. He referred to the numerous postponements of local government elections, and pointed out that the last such election was held in 1994. He, however, expressed hope that this postponement would be the last one.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) also registered its concern that there should be no other postponements after the Bill has been passed.