A meeting of the Special Select Committee on Local Government, scheduled to be held yesterday, was postponed, even as arguments persist about the holding of local government elections this year.
PPP/C MP and committee member Gail Teixeira yesterday confirmed that the meeting had been postponed although she did not say why. Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud as well as APNU MPs Basil Williams, who chairs the committee, and Ronald Bulkan, could not be reached for an explanation when attempts were made last evening.
Stabroek News has learn-ed, however, that the meeting has been rescheduled for next Friday.
Williams had earlier in the week stated that the committee had completed the consideration of the Local Government Commission Bill, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill and intended to tackle the Fiscal Transfers Bill at yesterday’s meeting.
Williams had stated that the only contentious issue in this bill was the consideration of a formula which is to determine how funds will be distributed from central government to neighbourhood democratic councils.
So far, Vincent Alexander, an expert in this area, has submitted a revised formula for consideration by the committee, while it is uncertain if Navin Chanderpal, another expert, has also made a submission as had been expected. Both men had submitted initial proposals which were sent back by the council for revision.
Despite this progress, Persaud has criticised APNU for what he deemed contentious amendments to the bills.
At a press conference earlier this week, Persaud accused the combined opposition of attempting to frustrate the work of the committee in an effort to prevent the holding of local government elections this year. Williams however, says that the progress made thus under his chairmanship is a testament to the APNU’s commitment to hosting the long-overdue elections.
