…says municipalities must generate own funds

WITH local government elections some seven months away, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan believes that the misconception that central government is required to provide financial and other resources to enable municipalities and councils to discharge their manifold tasks must be corrected. And he dismissed claims that he has been interfering with the operations of local authorities.

During an interview Wednesday morning on Jump Start 94.1fm with host Gordon Moseley, the Minister of Communities made it clear that his administration is “committed to respecting the independence as well as the authority of councils.” “If we have a situation where the central government is the principal provider of resources and finances, then we could possibly end up in a situation where not only the independence, but the authority of those councils are compromised,” said Bulkan.

He made it clear that it is not the intention of his administration to interfere in the autonomy of the councils and municipalities. “And, we don’t want to find ourselves in a situation like this. The laws provide that each council has the ability to generate and collect the revenues they need from within their jurisdiction,” he stated.

The minister noted that monies could be garnered from rates and taxes on properties and real estate within the specific areas. He explained that central government, as part of its agenda to reform what he termed a “dysfunctional system,” is working to ensure that the financial bases of all councils are restored, so that “central government is not expected to be the main provider of financial resources, but working with councillors is to allow for the restoration of their financial base.”

As it relates to the garnering of finances from property taxes, Bulkan gave a reminder that property rates and valuations have not been done since 1995; more than two decades ago. The Minister of Communities noted that with new property valuations, councils would be in a better position to receive considerably more finances than they currently do.

“This is going to lead to the strengthening of their revenue base and equip councils and councillors with the resources they need to bring about the effectiveness,” Bulkan stressed. There are 71 councils, nine municipalities or towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and according to the minister, “It would be hard pressed for anyone to make an objective accusation against this administration that it is seeking to control the work of our local democratic organs.”

He reminded that the councils are largely made up, in the main, of representatives of political parties and “where it is that local democratic organs enjoy autonomy under the law, they are not immune from the influence of the political parties from which those councils arrive.”

Bulkan posited that “there will always be the possibility of external considerations” and pointed to the Georgetown municipality as an example. He said Georgetown being the country’s capital, gives rise to a number of other considerations. The minister said the likelihood of central government being unconcerned about the impact of certain initiatives is non-existent.

Meanwhile, the Communities Minister made it clear that seven years ago, local government and governance were not part of the national consciousness as it was not talked about or considered to be relevant. He reminded that it was following the November 2011, General and Regional Elections and the ascension of President David Granger as opposition leader in the 10th Parliament, that a system of local government and the concept of local democracy was placed high up on the national agenda.

Bulkan reminded too that in the country’s 51 years of independence, there were only three LGE. Those elections took place in 1970, 1994 and 2016. “This by itself informs us that local government was considered to be irrelevant. But even more important, was arising out of that philosophy or construct was that the system itself was placed under such enormous pressures that the councils that existed, existed mostly in form and not in substance,” the minister stated.

He said the capacities of the councils were damaged and degraded, thereby causing them to be largely dysfunctional.
“…So restoring functionality to such a system within such a framework, I think it becomes apparent to us that it is not an overnight job. However, what we have is an administration that is determined to rehabilitate and rebuild the system, to restore effectiveness within councils and to restore functionality,” he stated.

That aside, Bulkan stressed the need for a massive education campaign. He believes there must be public and voter education, so that persons can understand how the councils, made up of persons they are electing , have the authority under law not to administer but to manage and develop their respective areas. “This is what local democracy is all about,” said Minister Bulkan, who noted that it is an unknown system which requires understanding and awareness. Something which he maintains will not happen overnight.

“It is going to require continuous and dedicated efforts to educate not only citizens, but persons who are desirous of becoming candidates who eventually become councillors, who will have this awesome responsibility of leading the process and renewal and transformation of their communities. So it is a work in progress,” he stated.

While much work has been done, the minister made it clear that considerably much more has to be achieved. “What is clear is the commitment and determination of this administration to bring about the renewal and rebirth and effectiveness of this system. We are convinced that these provisions that exist in our constitution and laws…they are there for a reason — to bring about better management of our communities and therefore we will not be deterred nor dissuaded from continuing with the revitalisation of this system – it is going to take time.”

Addressing the issue of low voter turnout, the minister said, when LGE is held in November, there would be 651 elections occurring simultaneously, representing 72 councils or nine towns and 62 municipalities. Within each of those councils, there are constituencies, within the system there are 580 constituencies which is a specifically demarcated geographically located area within each organ. Each of these constituencies has an election by and of itself.

In 2016, the voter turnout averaged 43 per cent but this year, Bulkan is optimistic that there would be higher turnouts.
“The ministry is about to unveil an aggressive voter education and public education campaign- to help inform citizens about how critical it is to participate in these elections, either as a candidate or voter, given the fact that these councils that will come into being have this enormous possibility to impact on the conditions within those communities,” he stated. He said the minimum target set, is overall participation of 50 per cent, but that percentage would vary from constituency to constituency.

“But our focus would be to bring the message across- to citizens and residents about the importance and relevance of this system,” said Minister Bulkan.