Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green says his first wish for the New Year is for government to end its flagrant violation of the Constitution and call local government elections.
Chapter VII – 71 of the Guyana Constitution states “Local Government is a vital aspect of democracy,” Green said in his New Year’s message. To further underline his point, he noted that according to the Constitution 78A of VII “Parliament shall establish a Local Government Commission, the composition and rule of which empowers the Commission to deal with as it deems fit, all matters related to the regulation and staffing of all Local authority bodies.”
The mayor also said national leaders must first accept the need for significant change if 2014 is to be a good and safe year for all Guyanese. Further, he asserted that leaders should resolve to observe the eighth and ninth Biblical commandments in their approach to governance.
Green also said it is important “that the concept of a majority be understood and the now silent majority break their silence.” He asserted that national leaders should undertake to understand the “cardinal features of democracy, where the idea of political power resides with all the people.”
According to the mayor, consideration must also be given to competency, qualification, decency and suspending all forms of corruption and nepotism. He also called for a cessation of the wanton destruction of the hinterland and urban environment.
