– chairpersons, vice-chairpersons sworn in for Regions 1, 4, 9 & 10

THE Ministry of Communities has increased its annual subventions to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) from $3 million to $5 million.

Government had proposed the increase in the 2019 budget which was approved by the National Assembly last Friday. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said the increased subventions would serve as tangible support which the councils would use to cater for development in their respective communities.

“You will find strong support from the Ministry of Communities and by extension central government…next year, chairs, vice-chairs and overseers of all NDCs will receive a stipend,” said the minister during his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for the chairpersons and vice- chairpersons for 20 NDCs within Regions One, Four, Nine and 10 at Square of the Revolution on Wednesday.

Although government is committed to lending support to the NDCs, he said the local democratic organs have full autonomy which is provided for in the constitution. “Government has been deepening our democratic governance and moving towards a decentralised approach to governance…this administration did not have to institute new provisions to let this exercise take place, they are embedded in Article 12 of the constitution,” said Bulkan, noting the significance of the recently held Local Government Elections (LGEs) to the process.

LGEs were held for the second time in 24 years and for the first successive time since independence.

“Residents finally had a right to elect the persons who they want to represent them at the local government level…a right which was denied for far too long; that was to the detriment and development of our society,” Minister Bulkan stated, adding that the persons who were elected have a right to serve the residents of their communities and not an institution or entity.

Bulkan echoed the sentiments of President David Granger who once said that no more shall LGEs be postponed or withheld. Holding of LGEs is consistent with the agenda of the ministry, he said, adding that the local government system which was “damaged and degraded” is going to need considerable work and effort to restore functionality within the councils.

“It is our hope and expectation that before we leave office, whenever that is, that this system would be so entrenched and that the people of Guyana will not allow any administration to take away this power that the people have,” said the minister.
He said the restoration of local democracy has positively impacted and improved service delivery and the conditions of residents.

The minister assured the newly sworn-in chairpersons and vice-chairpersons that central government will not dictate their operations, but would be there to assist in the development of the communities across the country. According to Minister Bulkan, councils will have an opportunity to interact and share ideas once again during the second National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCDLO), which will be held in the first quarter of 2019.

Speaking at the inaugural NCDLO conference last year, President David Granger said Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), NDCs and municipalities are bound by the constitution to provide services such as the maintenance of bridges, drainage and irrigation structures, roads, security, street-lighting, sanitation, sporting and recreational facilities; promotion of education, employment and economic enterprises, including cottage industries and health and preservation of values and culture at the level of communities.
“These are demanding duties. These are vast responsibilities. These functions require collaboration, cooperation and coordination between the various local government organs and central government. They require commitment by all and at all levels of government and society…The provision of public services is vital to improving the living and working conditions within neighbourhoods and villages,” the President said.
Some of the President’s sentiments were echoed by Minister Bulkan and Chairperson of the

RDC for Region Four, Genevieve Allen, who encouraged the local leaders to be agents of change.