— $552 million for local government organs

SOME $1.1 billion has been allocated for community-enhancement initiatives under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MoLGRD) in the 2021 national budget, while $552 million has been allocated to strengthen local government organs.

Additionally, some $172 million has been provided for capacity-building, institutional strengthening and infrastructural works for the local government organs, including rehabilitation of the Parika, Charity and Mon Repos markets.

Presenting the $383.1 billion 2021 budget on Friday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said that government is committed to maintaining the legal and regulatory framework for the system of local administration through the development of local organs.
“To this end, the Local Democratic Organs will benefit from technical support to perform their constitutional roles and functions, as well as to enhance leadership and capacity development for the provision of quality services in all the communities across the country,” Dr Singh said.

Guyana’s local government system comprises 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and 10 municipalities across the country. Dr. Singh said going forward, better management of the sector will prevail.

“Over the past five years, a spate of financial irregularities plagued the local government organs alongside weak oversight and poor management of local government systems. Our administration will right these wrongs,” he said.