– Minister Persaud
THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development alone cannot decide on the holding of local government elections. Support must come from the political will and Parliament in passing the remaining legislation, minister with the portfolio, Mr. Ganga Persaud said recently.
He was speaking at a press conference he hosted, at the ministry, in Fort Street, Kingston and also present were Minister within the Ministry, Mr. Norman Whittaker and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Collin Croal.
Persaud reminded that, when such elections were last held in 1994, most of the persons who had put themselves up for office had a three-year period in mind.
However, because of a number of circumstances, the next elections, which were constitutionally due in 1997, have remained due.
“So we are hoping, this year, that we can have the elections held,” the minister said.
Late last year, Whittaker, at a public forum, said the absence of certain necessary reforms has been responsible for the delay in holding local government elections.
He had undertaken to have the reforms “vigorously” pursued this year.
Whittaker spoke at ‘De Impeccable Banquet Hall’ on Brickdam, also in Georgetown, at a forum organised for the presentation of the 2012 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) budget.

Interacted
He and several other Government functionaries interacted with representatives of the various NDCs.
According to Whittaker, local government elections could not take place because of an agreement that was reached with the Opposition that certain reforms in the local government structure were a prerequisite.
He acknowledged that it was physically and logistically impossible for the elections to be conducted during the first quarter of this year.
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran also pointed out, there, that local government elections may be able to produce a “more effective local administration” with more energetic people who are able to confront the present community issues.