WHILE many countries have multiple tiers of government, including local government systems, Guyana may have one of the best. The impending local government elections scheduled for November 12 have understandably caused many Guyanese to ask the questions: on what premise or logic is our system of local government based? What is the thinking underlying our system of municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs), and how important is it?

The fact is, our system of local governance is based on a great deal of enlightened thought and deliberation. The system is vital to democratic governance, and all Guyanese have a patriotic duty to participate in the processes of local governance for their own benefit.

Guyana’s constitution, enacted in 1980, mandates the existence of local democratic organs — municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) – and defines their roles within the scheme of national governance. Article 12 reveals the importance of the system; it declares, “Local government by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the State.”

Articles 13 and 71 state the purpose of the local tier of government. Article 13 states, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
Article 71 underscores the idea that, “Local government is a vital aspect of democracy, and shall be organised to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live.”

The constitution evidently places much power in the hands of the local tier of government. Articles 74 and 75 stipulate that local democratic organs shall be autonomous and have clearly defined, specific responsibilities intended to raise the standard of living of all Guyanese.

The ideas underlying those vital constitutional provisions were conceived prior to enactment of the constitution and articulated in a document titled, STATE PAPER ON THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN GUYANA. The paper was tabled in the National Assembly on August 5, 1980 by then Minister of Economic Development and Cooperatives, Mr. Desmond Hoyte.

The State Paper was the product of deliberate consultations. The document explains, “By Resolution NO. CXXIII of 21st July, 1978, the National Assembly established a Constituent Assembly for the purpose of devising a new constitution for Guyana. This constitution, the first to be fashioned by the Guyanese people for themselves, was intended to be consistent with and reflect the prevailing ethos, the social objectives and the aspirations of the Guyanese people.”

Further, it explains, “Such a far-reaching enterprise as the elaboration of a new constitution, of necessity, had implications for and impinged upon every aspect of national life, not the least important being the local government system.”
Local government and its importance to national development was obviously at the forefront of the minds of the framers of Guyana’s constitution.

The document repeatedly emphasises the importance of local government. “The constitution identifies and enshrines the local government system as one of the most important democratic institutions. Indeed, the pivotal and pervasive role assigned to local government and its integral importance in the political framework constitute an essential characteristic of the democratic organisation of the State.”

Referring to the old system, the State Paper observes: “In the colonial context, local government was peripheral to the political and economic life of the country; that “local government is an ideal institution for mobilising the rural population and resources, and liberating the productive forces for development.”

Clearly, Guyana’s system of government at the community level is based on careful consideration of our country’s post-colonial realities, and deliberate attention to its post-independence developmental aspirations. The essential and important role of government at the local level, therefore, cannot be overemphasised; the origin of the system proves that fact.

As such, Guyanese are urged to participate fully in the system, because it is the level of government which has the greatest and most direct impact on their lives. Voting on November 12, therefore, should be a commitment of every Guyanese citizen.