A Partnership for National Unity’s Shadow Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, reading from a statement at a press conference on 9th November, 2012, said: “APNU reminds Central Government of their obligations to honour constitutional provisions regarding the role and authority of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs). The RDCs should be allowed to function in accordance with the Laws of Guyana.
We remind the government and citizens as well of what the constitution and implementing statutes/laws specify regarding the aforesaid scope and authority of the various tiers of local government and their various organs. These provisions are contained in the applicable legislation, i.e. Cap. 28:09, Local Democratic Organs Act. The pertinent sections are:
Section 3: “The general objectives of the system of local government … are to involve as many citizens as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live and ensuring popular participation in organizing the political, economic, social and cultural life of those communities.”
Section 7 : “… it shall be the duty of each local democratic organ (RDC, Municipality or NDC) and the members and officers thereof within its area – (a) to maintain and protect public property; (b) to protect and improve the physical environment; (c) to improve working and living conditions; (d) to stimulate economic activities and improve production and efficiency; (e) to promote the social and cultural life of the people; (f) to raise the level of civic consciousness; (g) to preserve law and order; (h) to consolidate socialist legality; (i) to safeguard the rights of the people; and (j) to give advice, encouragement and support to the people in their daily activities and to give leadership by example.”
The statement continued: “It is apposite for us to restate the above as there is a deliberate campaign to seek to reduce the effectiveness of the RDCs to manage public affairs in accordance with constitutional and statutory provisions.
Currently there is an intolerable level of interference by Central Government which sees the appointed element (Regional Executive Officers, Clerks and Overseers) seeking to undermine and usurp the authority of elected councilors. These actions are counter-productive and, where they occur, result in conflicts and inefficiencies.
The government’s predilection for tampering with the independence of RDCs is unhealthy and they must desist from this course. As a responsible partner in national development, APNU will adhere to proper procedure and will continue to engage the Ministry of Local Government first, but will utilize, if necessary, the National Assembly to protect and enhance the integrity and independence of duly-elected councils.”
APNU regrets to acknowledge that, two years on, our earnest plea to the Government for meaningful dialogue and collaboration has fallen on deaf ears. Instead of the sought for cooperation, the PPP has responded with confrontation and exclusion.
Instead of engaging local democratic organs which have been constituted via the democratic process the PPP administration has hardened its exclusionary approach to governance.
The Government’s intrusion and intolerable interference into the functioning of local government bodies have intensified. Whatever vestige of local democracy existed has been systematically destroyed by a lawless administration. The PPP’s open defiance of the laws and constitutional provisions relating to local participation, decision-making and democracy has led to the subverting and ignoring the role of elected councilors in all of our local democratic organs. This sad state of affairs exists in the RDCs, municipalities and NDCs.
It has resulted in a countrywide spate of angry protests especially in the hinterland. In each of the hinterland regions, namely Barima-Waini (Region No.1), Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region No.7), Potaro-Siparuni (Region No.8), Rupununi (Region No.9), Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region No.10) there have been protests by angry residents.
Among the varied causes for these protests are the deplorable conditions of schools’ toilets and environs, state of roads and bridges, expensive, unstable and unreliable electricity supply, inadequate supply of pure water, pollution of creeks and rivers arising from external mining and logging activities and disrespect for people’s basic rights, among others.
When residents in Mahdia recently protested to highlight their plight over the absence of pure water supply and the conditions of internal roads in the community and the main road leading to the community, the State’s response was to deploy riot police to terrorise citizens. The PPP’s message is clear. It is not prepared to tolerate any form of dissent to its oppressive rule.
The Guyanese people will not enjoy their constitutional right to practise local democracy as long as the PPP is in government. We can only get local government if we get rid of the PPP. This opportunity – for Guyanese to rid themselves of this uncaring and corrupt administration – will soon be before us at general and regional elections. Voting for and electing APNU to form the government (top half of the ballot) is the only way to ensure that we get local government and local democracy. Take back your community. Vote APNU.
