Introduction
Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change to submit a weekly column on local government and related matters. Only APNU has submitted one this week.
Central government has a constitutional duty to support local democracy and the work of local democratic organs (municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils). The failure of successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic administrations to discharge this responsibility has resulted in hindering the councils’ ability to perform their functions. This has led to deep dissatisfaction in communities and to a crisis in local governance – all to the detriment of people and their well-being.
Two primary objectives of Local Government are to enable democratic local decision-making and action by,