The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) bill was unanimously approved by the National Assembly yesterday paving the way for municipal and local government elections to be held by December 1, 2008.
The bill, which was dated December 5, 2007, was retroactively passed “to have come into operation on 1st November 2007.”
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall opened the debate on the bill which saw lively exchanges before it was given the full support of the House. The parties involved blamed each other for the yearly postponements since 1994. Local government elections were due since 1997.
The speakers included PNCR-1G MP Keith Scott, who blamed the PPP/C for the delay; PPP/C MP Harripersaud Nokta, who noted that the task force set up to deal with the reform of local government has gone a far way and was near to meeting its obligations; AFC MP David Patterson, who noted that six years have passed and the PNCR and PPP/C cannot agree to a deal to hold local government elections; and PPP/C MP Donald Ramotar who levelled blame for postponement of the elections at the PNCR.
Lall, however, gave the assurance that all the machinery was in place for elections to be held on or before December 1 next year.
