The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) has added its voice to the call for local government elections to be held this year, saying that the continued delay has “short-changed” the country of both basic services and a new cadre of political leaders.
“If we are serious [about] playing a role of running our country, then we must be serious about being a part of the process to bring about change,” YCT President Jermaine Grant said yesterday at a news conference at City Hall.
“Why is it that in 2013 we are unable to have our garbage disposed? Our drains and alleyways cleaned? Our roads properly paved? Or our communities not properly illuminated by street lamps?” he questioned, adding that a reformed local government system would strengthen transparency and responsibility.
The failure of the political parties to craft agreed reforms is one of the reasons for the delay of the polls, which were last held in 1994.
According to Grant, a reformed local government system should ensure that the interests of the people are properly represented, while empowering them to hold representatives accountable for failure to do so.
“Nineteen years is too long and we should not touch twenty… too long we have suffered under a local government system that is ineffective, a system that has not and cannot work for us, a system that has seen us being short changed,” he added.
Grant also said that the delay in holding the polls has deprived youths interested in political leadership of the chance to become leaders in their communities and possibly leaders in the forefront of the general elections. He said that the election is an important “tool to recruit and groom,” youths into the political system.
“It is now more important than ever that we educate our young people on the process of local government reform, on the responsibilities of the government to its people,” he went on to say.
Earlier this month, the four key western missions in Guyana called for the holding of the polls, saying that there was no valid justification for further delay and blaming it for a persistent drag on Guyana’s national development.
Grant also said that the YCT was dissatisfied with a recent High Court ruling that he said has left residents of Isseneru feeling stripped of their rights and entitlements to their ancestral lands.
The ruling serves as a dire example for other Amerindian villages that may be in dispute with miners, he further said. “It is ironic that the [Amerindian] Act that is suppose to protect and advance the rights of Amerindian citizens has served to their peril with a retrogressive judicial decision,” he declared, while adding that it was also distressing that land titles which were supposed to certify land rights “now seem to be papers without merit.”
“What use are the efforts of land demarcation and entitlements when documents of ownership are not credible? Certainly better is expected from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in championing the causes of Guyana’s indigenous peoples,” he said.
He added that the YCT rises in solidarity with the people of Isseneru to appeal the ruling with the hope “that good sense would prevail and a sound judgement is handed down within a logical context.”
Meanwhile, the YCT members are looking forward to participating in this year’s Mashramani Costume Com-petition and Float Parade.
Dwayne Dodson, Execu-tive Member of the YCT, said that the group has already identified costume designers for recommendations for the designs of its Mash band “to ensure the creation of costumes of outstanding quality.”
He said that the costumes will embrace this year’s theme for Mashramani—Reflecting creativity, Em-bracing Diversity—by showcasing a parade that would completely represent the needs of Guyanese youths. “Our bands are youth-inspired, youth-initiated and youth-mobilised,” Dodson said.
