THE APNU+AFC Administration is currently vetting its nominees to serve on the Local Government Commission, Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters on Thursday.

The Minister of State said background checks are being conducted on persons who have been shortlisted to function as government commissioners on that Commission, in accordance with the law.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan submitted the list of nominees to Cabinet recently, and those persons are being vetted to ensure they meet the requirements to hold the office and to carry out the roles and responsibilities contained therein.

The law requires that those identified are of “high integrity” in order to ensure that, once they are called to function, they are able to perform.

Harmon noted that the process is somewhat delayed because of Government fulfilling all checks and balances before naming its appointees for the long-awaited Commission. He made it clear that the Minister of Communities is not at fault for the delay.

However, whilst the Government is still yet to name its appointees, it has been taking steps to ensure the operations of the Commission. “We have actually started taking steps with the acquisition of building and office equipment for the Commission,” Harmon told reporters

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had in July named Carol Sooba, Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore as its representatives to the Local Government Commission.

Once established, the Local Government Commission, provided for under article 78A of the Constitution, would, as it deems fit, deal with all matters related to the regulation and staffing of local government organs, and with dispute resolution within and between local government organs.

When operational, the Commission is expected to reduce the influence of Central Government by placing the oversight of local democratic organs under the purview of a commission, and not a government ministry.

The Commission would comprise eight members, four nominated by Government, one nominated by the unions operating in the local government sector, and three nominated by the Opposition.