THERE is a synonymous thread that runs through the seam of all the municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Guyana – their inability to carry out vital environmental and capital works that will not only enhance their communities, but also improve livelihoods. And this is because of grossly inadequate finances, from residents, many of whom do not pay their rates and taxes.

A contradiction inherent in this situation, is that numerous citizens are still paying ridiculously paltry sums of taxes for their homes, although many of these have been converted into palatial sizes. Even this seems to be ignored by these home-owners. The shocking reality is that there has not been any evaluation of properties for the past two decades or more.

Of course, this has been defeating the purpose of every municipality and NDC in their capacities to deliver appropriate services. BUDGET 2018, recently presented to the nation, has announced plans for a country-wide valuation of properties that will commence in the new year. It is a prayer that has finally been answered for the city fathers and mothers, as it ought to be for other such local bodies throughout Guyana. They all need the revenue. We hail this as a must, and decisive in aiding these institutions to improve and increase the garnering of critically needed revenues. In fact, this amply supports President David Granger’s vision that municipalities and NDCs must find ways to raise revenues for improving their respective communities.

It is timely that such a national plan of action, long due, occurs particularly against the background of the historic 2016 local government elections, which offers for the first time in this country’s modern social history, an opportunity for communities and residents at the local level to determine their socio–economic development, without any political interference. This is a stated position of the coalition government and is best supported by its position in allowing City Hall to remedy the controversial parking meter impasse with citizens.

This is also an excellent advancement for another of President Granger’s visionary plans, that of capital towns being the engine for driving the socio-economic development of regions. This is definitely possible, given the new dispensation of the local government system, and the recently installed Local Government Commission, which wide-ranging functions facilitates the capacity and wherewithal for assisting both municipalities and NDCs to this level of development of capital towns.

Herein lies the potential for rapid development, since these areas are agriculturally productive with much poultry, dairy, and aquaculture production. These are well placed for agro-processing endeavours, and value-added culminations. But these have to be supported by vital infrastructure, such as improved farm roads, bridges and cleaner canals for access to farms wherever these are, as well as better illumination.

However, citizens in those coastal municipalities and NDCs will have to understand their civic role in making these possible, thereby reaping the desired benefits. They must realise that improvements cannot be effected in their communities by Councils which do not have adequate financial resources. How can some residents convert their residences into commercial places and still pay rates on the former?

This is very unconscionable and ought to appropriately be remedied. Capital towns can become the catalyst for regional development, giving impetus to national development. The 2018 budgetary proposal of property valuation with its extra s can significantly add to the realisation of this vision.