THE long delayed Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held on March 18 next year, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan announced yesterday morning at a news conference at his ministry.The hosting of LGE represents “an important time in our history,” he said, stressing that “the entire local government system is currently rotten and must be rehabilitated and made fully functional.”
The polls will be held in the nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Local government polls have not been held since 1994 although the Constitution stipulates that they are to be held every three years.
Bulkan said yesterday that “democratic renewal of local government organs is long overdue.” The Minister of Communities also noted that “the last local government elections were held here in 1994. Since then, there have been several protests against the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) demanding that power be returned to the people to enable them to effectively manage their communities.
“A functioning local government system is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance. It is important because it deals with people’s lives in their communities. Strong local government is at the heart of national development because who wields decision-making power at the municipal and neighbourhood levels directly determine and decide where and how your tax dollars will be used to develop individual communities and ultimately, the nation,” he noted.
As a result, Bulkan said development at every level is important and depends on a “strong system of good, democratic, effective and efficient local governance.”
Citing Article 12 of the Constitution of Guyana which states that local government is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the State, Bulkan said government is committed to upholding the rule of law.
CITIZEN’S INVOLVEMENT
Local governments, he said, are in place to provide essential services to the people and help to improve living conditions, create jobs, maintain roads, bridges and other infrastructure, garbage collections, and promoting a healthy environment while encouraging citizen’s involvement in their communities.
“As Guyanese who have been living without a functioning local government system, we can all attest to the necessity of restoring and repairing the dysfunctional system which currently exists, since we have experienced the results of the collapse of local government systems,” said Bulkan.
He assured that it is government’s intention by virtue of Article 74 of the Constitution of Guyana to empower local democratic organs to carry out their mandate as stated in Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution “by replacing the heavy fist of central government interference with the open hand of positive, helpful intervention to assist local bodies to do their work effectively. In other words, the relationship between central and local government must, and will, be altered and corrected in accordance with constitutional provisions.”
“When we elect new local leaders on March 18, 2016, we will be making a break with the ways of the past; the new leaders will not just replace the old ones. The new, democratically elected officials will be empowered according to law, and they will be expected to perform their decision-making roles, according to law. They will not be subject to domination and control by central government,” the minister declared.
Speaking to the history of the local government system, Bulkan said that local government was embedded in Guyana’s system of political administration since1980. “This system of grassroots-democracy was therefore bequeathed to us since 1980, but was, unfortunately, never properly implemented as it was intended to be. Today, we have the opportunity to transform Guyana by following the letter and spirit of the Constitution.”
FIVE NEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION
As a result, Bulkan said the country’s local government legislation was strengthened following local government reform shortly after the 1997 general elections. Five new pieces of legislation were enacted: The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act 2009; Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act 2013; Fiscal Transfers Act 2013; Local Government Commission Act 2013; and the Local Government (Amendment) Act 2015.
Under the law, the newly-elected local leaders will have the power to make decisions that will affect citizens and the way they live within the Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.
“It is therefore important that each eligible voter casts a ballot, according to his or her conscience. If you do not vote, other people will choose local government officials without your input,” said Bulkan.
INFORM YOURSELVES
The Minister of Communities urged all citizens to familiarise themselves with each candidate and what is being offered. “Inform yourselves of what each candidate has to offer – listen to all of them – then cast your ballot based on the issues. Let us put the past behind us and move forward to a better life for all residents within our respective communities.”

By Ariana Gordon