Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change to submit a weekly column on local government and related matters. The PPP/C has declined the offer. Only APNU has submitted a column this week.
The President is expected to lead. President Donald Ramotar, in this regard, has three questions to answer. These are: (i) will he allow local democracy to prevail or will he continue to smother it; (ii) will he abide by and uphold the Constitution and laws of Guyana, and (iii) will he be a Leader or continue to be a follower?
His responses to these questions will help to define the nature of his leadership during his tenure as President.
The laws of Guyana provide for local democracy. The Constitution is unambiguous in this regard. It provides for autonomy of local democratic organs [of which there are 81, namely 10 regional democratic councils (RDCs), 6 municipalities and 65 neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs)].
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration of President Ramotar is relentlessly pursuing a policy of ‘re-centralization’ instead of ensuring the ‘de-centralization’ that the Constitution specifies. This programme is being executed, often tyrannically, by the appointed element or officers within local democratic organs or Regional Executive Officers (in the case of RDCs), Clerks (in the case of municipalities) and Overseers (in the case of NDCs). These officials are being used to undermine, usurp and even bypass the authority of elected councils.
The travesty being perpetrated by the Georgetown Town Clerk (ag) only happens to be the most visible owing to the city’s capital status. Similar high-handed and atrocious behaviour is taking place in councils countrywide away from public glare. This is all a result of a deliberate policy of the PPP/C to exert excessive control for narrow partisan purposes. The victims are the people who have to suffer as a result of inefficiencies and sub-standard delivery of local services resulting from the dysfunctionality created by the central gov`t.
The PPP/C administration, showing its true colours, is casting the blame for neglect of communities on councils which are being prevented from functioning with the authority and autonomy provided for by the Constitution! Parallel structures are being established everywhere with the objective of undermining the role of local democratic organs.
The latest has been the Anti-Litter Regulations being administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment. This Ministry has failed abysmally to protect the environment from the ravages of unregulated mining and forestry in the hinterland but now seeks to manage littering on the coast, a function of local democratic organs. Such is the lawlessness being practised by the PPP/C administration.
Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2014
Legislation for the postponement of local government elections for the 16th time was passed in early 2013. This provided legal cover for NDCs and municipalities up to the period 1st December, 2013. Later, the four outstanding local government reform Bills were passed in the National Assembly on 7th August, 2013.
As a consequence of the latter there was now no longer any impediment for the holding of these long-overdue elections. A President that was mindful of being true to the oath he took to honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution would have then moved swiftly to make provision for the holding of these elections. The nation was instead treated to yet another Bill for the postponement of local government elections.
This Bill –No. 3 of 2014 – was passed on 10th February, 2014 with an APNU amendment that the elections must be held on or before 1st August, 2014. It ought to be appreciated that this would have allowed almost a full year since passage of the local government reform Bills. This Bill was presented to President Ramotar on 12th February, 2014 for his assent. It was returned by the President to the Speaker on 3rd June, 2014 or 109 days later announcing his non-assent!
The Constitution, at Article 170. (3), requires that where the President withholds his assent to a Bill, he shall return it to the Speaker within 21 days of the date when it was presented to him. So much for this Head of State and his respect for the rule of law! Even more scandalous, however, is the reason proffered by the President for withholding his assent. This was given to be that “the Guyana Elections Commission has publicly declared that it is impractical to hold local government elections on or before August 1st, 2014”!
The President’s reasoning denies citizens their constitutional right to elect councillors to manage the affairs of their communities. The President, by his action, has failed to discharge the responsibilities of the office he holds.
Citizens, in the meantime, are patiently waiting for the opportunity to practise local democracy which the Donald Ramotar administration is determined to deny them. They have to endure the neglect of their communities as a result of this callousness. Time is fast running out on Mr. Ramotar to salvage his discredited credentials and sagging Presidency.
As this charade continues with various government policymakers offering spurious and bogus excuses for the denial of democracy our citizens recognize that it is Parliamentary democracy that is on trial. The so-called ‘Democratic Dividend’ which some might have longed for in 1992 had turned into a ‘Democratic Disaster’ two decades later!
