THE Ministry of Communities is mulling the establishment of a ‘National Town Clerk Association’ as it seeks to get town clerks to effectively execute their duties.

The suggestion was thrown out during a workshop by New Amsterdam Deputy Town Clerk, Merlyn Henry, at a recent workshop facilitated by the Ministry of Communities.

The Ministry of Communities in a press statement, said town clerks and their deputies from across the nine municipal councils have called for the establishment of a National Town Clerk Association.

Henry said the forum will assist the clerks in discharging their mandate effectively and improving their overall functionality.

Among those who attended the seminar were Georgetown Town Clerk, Royston King; New Amsterdam’s, Sharon Alexander; Anna Regina’s, Diane Critchlow; Lethem’s, Keisha Vincent; Mabaruma, Barrington Ward; Rose Hall, Natasha Munroe; Corriverton’s, Narendranauth Sukhram; and Bartica’s, Phoebe Wallerson.

During the discussions with Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrell, the town clerks said issues of financial and human resource management were among their main concerns.

They believe that if addressed, these issues can minimise the instances of other problems that may arise.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry’s Municipal Services Department under the theme, “Improving Municipal Management to enhance service delivery.”

The sessions were designed to allow for the drafting of terms of reference to inform and guide the roles and functions of the post of town clerk.

Most of the town clerks spoke of the nature of their work and the frustrations and challenges they encounter and posited potential solutions that can be used to foster better working relations between them and the Council.

MISINTERPRETATION
One of the main challenges highlighted by all of the town clerks was the conflicts that arose out of a misinterpretation of the roles of the elected elements of the Council as policy-makers, against the administrative element.

They were reminded of Article 71 and its ensuing sub-sections, which provides for Guyana’s division into regions and sub-regions, which would fall under the ambit of any municipality.

The town clerks were also told of Government’s desire to entrench local Government development as one of the priority areas, even as the towns were being positioned as economic zones within the structure.

With plans to establish three additional towns on the cards, McGarrell stated that municipalities would be charged with the vital responsibility of ensuring that the needs of citizens are well considered.

“When citizens feel satisfied at the council level, it is only then that Central Government would have delivered on its mandate,” the permanent secretary remarked.

The town clerks noted that the forum was very instrumental in providing information and best practices that can be adopted by the various councils.

They were also a great deal of knowledge-sharing and networking among the town clerks that will allow for greater transparency and regularity in the accounting system at the council level.

The Ministry is currently in discussions to facilitate an action round-table with mayors, deputy mayors and town clerks in the near future.

The town clerks were informed that the Ministry’s legal department is preparing proposed amendments to the Municipal and District Council Act Chapter 28:01 that relates to the stalemates resulting from the internal local Government elections.

The Ministry’s Legal Officer, Denise Hodge, explained that instead of having the terms for mayor and deputy mayor run on a calendar basis, the proposal suggests a term that runs from January 1 to December 31.

The newly-elected mayor and deputy mayor of Corriverton and the deputy mayor of Georgetown are expected to take the oath of office on Friday, March 31, 2017.