—Minister Manickchand says training, clear protocols key to improving local governance and service delivery

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, has identified a lack of technical knowledge among Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) as one of the biggest obstacles to effective local governance.
She made the observation even as the Government continues to invest millions of dollars annually in strengthening the country’s local democratic organs.
Appearing recently on the Guyana Dialogue programme, Manickchand said the Government has significantly increased financial and material support to NDCs over the past few years, but stressed that capacity building and education remain critical if communities are to fully benefit from those investments.
However, she stressed that providing equipment and increasing salaries alone will not solve the challenges facing NDCs.
“Having come into the ministry, I understand a little bit better that it’s not only about the garbage truck and the fire truck and the salary,” she said. “A lot of times these councillors and officials just don’t know what next to do.”
According to the minister, many officials are unfamiliar with the legal and administrative procedures required to address routine community issues.
She cited situations involving overgrown private properties or buildings constructed outside approved regulations, explaining that while councillors often recognise a problem exists, they are unsure of the legal process that follows issuing a notice.
“There has to be a lot of training and retraining,” she said. “These are bodies that change and can change every two or three years because that’s when they have elections.”
Manickchand argued that standard operating procedures (SoPs) and written protocols should be developed to guide councillors regardless of changes in leadership.
She said, “There has to be some written-up SoPs and protocols that can prevail over time.”
While acknowledging public criticism that some NDCs are unresponsive, the minister suggested that in many cases the issue is not unwillingness but a lack of understanding of the required legal process.
Manickchand acknowledged that while some residents may view NDCs as unresponsive, the issue is often not a lack of action but rather poor communication about the legal procedures involved. She explained that many matters require statutory processes that take time to complete, which can create the impression that councils are failing to respond.
Asked about the biggest challenges confronting NDCs, Manickchand said residents would likely identify issues such as garbage collection, drainage and street lighting.
However, from the ministry’s perspective, she said the principal challenge is education.
“I think the top three challenges that get in the way of the NDCs delivering on those issues would be their know-how,” she said. “They simply do not know in some cases what to do.”
She illustrated the point using the example of disputes between neighbours over tree branches extending onto adjoining properties.
“It’s a very simple issue. The law is very clear on that… if something comes into your yard, you’re allowed to cut it down,” Manickchand explained.
Using the example of residents who fail to weed their properties, Manickchand said NDCs are empowered to issue a notice, seek a court order, enter the property to clear the vegetation and then bill the owner for the work.
She argued that many local government officials are unaware of this process, underscoring the need for greater education, training and clear standard operating procedures.
However, she noted that many NDCs officials are unaware they can provide such guidance to residents and instead spend time pursuing unnecessary enforcement measures.
The minister said the solution lies in improving communication and ensuring local government officials receive practical guidance on handling common issues.
She stated, “I think the number one thing that we can do that would make it better is to get everybody talking to everybody.”
Since assuming office, Manickchand said she has already met with 65 of the country’s 70 NDCs and expects to complete meetings with the remaining councils within the next few weeks.
“That’s all in trying to let them understand that we are one body really in different villages trying to run the country in a way that is most pleasant for the people that we serve,” she said.
She maintained that strengthening education, improving communication and equipping councillors with practical knowledge will allow NDCs to make better use of the significant financial and material resources now being provided by the Government.
The Government has backed its push to strengthen local democratic organs with increased financial support for both officials and councils.
NDC chairpersons now receive monthly stipends of $50,000, up from $10,000, while vice-chairpersons’ stipends have increased from $5,000 to $40,000 and councillors from $3,000 to $30,000.
Regional Democratic Council (RDC) councillors are also now paid $50,000 monthly, up from $30,000.
Additionally, annual subventions for NDCs have risen from $5 million to $30 million, while municipalities now receive $50 million annually instead of $18 million, providing greater resources to improve community services and local governance.