On 27 October 2014, citizens across Ontario, including the cities of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton where most of the estimated 100,000 Guyanese in Canada live, will be electing new Mayors and City Councillors. Like many other countries, Canada has a long tradition of local democracy where municipal elections are held every two, three or four years depending on the location. In New York, where also most Guyanese in the United States live, mayoral elections take place every four years, the last being on 5 November 2013, while in the United Kingdom, such elections are held every four years. The last election for the Mayor of London was on 3 May 2012.
Contrast the above with what prevails in Guyana. Local government elections were last held in 1994 although the law requires such elections every three years. Therefore, for 17 years and on six consecutive occasions, ie, in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013, citizens were denied their democratic and constitutional right to decide who amongst them should be involved in the administration and management of the affairs of their communities. Article 12 of the Constitution provides for local government by freely elected representatives as an integral part of the democratic organization of the state. This is reinforced by Article 171 (1) which states that local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organized so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live. The active involvement of local residents in decision-making through their elected representatives is paramount and is indispensable to any system of local democracy and governance.
Last February, the National Assembly approved of an amendment to the legislation to provide for local government elections by 1 August 2014. The government side did not support the amendment, and to date the President is yet to assent the related Bill. It is evident that the government is not in favour of having such elections at this point in time. However, whether or not elections should be held, and when, is not the subject of negotiation nor does it require the exercise of discretion. Rather, it is an enshrined constitutional and legislative requirement that must be strictly adhered to without compromise. Needless to mention, democracy is not a gift from those in authority but a rather basic human right. Indeed, lest it be forgotten, those who currently hold positions of authority derive such authority from the very democratic process that they now seek to suppress at the local level.
The failure to hold local government elections reflects an undesirable attempt to undermine not only local democracy but also democracy in general. It is also a sad reflection of the obsession with power and political control as well as dictatorial and authoritarian tendencies reminiscent of the 20 year period (1970 to 1992) when the previous administration held no such elections. However, that was a different time and era when, as a victim of Cold War politics, Guyana suffered immensely in terms of collateral damage. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the restoration of democracy in 1992, there is absolutely no valid reason why local democracy should not be allowed to flourish, grow and blossom. Indeed, our collective failure in this regard places local democracy in peril which today is on trial.
Call by the ABC countries, civil society organisations
Concerned about the state of local democracy, the ABC countries along with a number of civil society organizations, issued a joint statement on the matter. The statement noted that international development agencies have long recognised the tangible benefits of local democracy going far beyond the act of casting a vote, and that elections would bring “much needed reinvigoration into local government entities.”
The release stated that “Effective and efficient public administration coupled with healthy local governance can drive development efforts. Local government institutions bring government closer to the people, fostering greater inclusion, civic responsibility, empowerment and participation… It is only when people have transparent and accountable institutions at all levels of government – national, regional, and local, will they have confidence in their future.” The statement also reminded the political parties of their pledge in 2011 to hold local government elections as a priority.
How do we feel as a nation when every so often, we are reminded of our collective failure to embrace a culture of democratic values and the associated practices of good governance, transparency and greater public accountability? Instead of taking stock of our situation and making appropriate amendments, we display hostility to the views of our own citizens and their representative civil society bodies. We indulge in state-sponsored vilification and character assassination of those who have the courage to speak out against this collective failure. We ignore the pleas of countries that have always come to our assistance for our development needs and to whom we look for guidance, advice and help at crucial times. Instead of displaying appreciation and gratitude, we abuse them and accuse them of meddling in our domestic affairs when they speak the uncomfortable and inconvenient truth. For how long are we going to continue with such uncouth and uncivilized behaviour?
Imposition of Interim Management Councils
The government has disbanded several local democratic councils and replaced them with interim management committees, comprising handpicked individuals. As in the case of central government, loyalty has become the main and in some cases the only criterion for selection, instead of technical and professional competence as well as independence of thought. Is it any wonder that over 80 per cent our university graduates leave our shores to seek out other opportunities and a better way of life? Is it any wonder that many of our best brains who can make a significant difference to Guyana if given an opportunity, live overseas?
In the early 1960s, Guyana was rated at number 40 in terms of economic development, ahead of Singapore, Malaysia and Barbados, among others. It was the breadbasket of the Caribbean. Today, look at the economic performance of these countries. The per capita income of Barbados with very few natural resources compared with ours is now seven times that of our country. Indeed, Guyana is rated in many respects the lowest in the Caribbean, except for Haiti – perceptions of corruption, doing business, to name just two. We also have the highest suicide rate in the world.
For 17 years, residents have been unable to replace their elected leaders if they do not live up to expectation in terms of their performance. It is simply legally, ethically and morally wrong for the government to foist these interim councils on its citizens. One only needs to reflect on the physical state of our capital city to appreciate the debilitating effects of a lack of democracy at the local level. Because of fierce wrestling for political control of the Georgetown City Council, roads are in a state of disrepair; canals and drains are clogged with weeds and garbage; flooding is a regular occurrence after a few hours of moderate rainfall; huge piles of garbage with an unbearable stench are left unattended; and sewers are overflowing. Georgetown, having for a long time been considered the garden city of the Caribbean, is sadly now the garbage city.
Democracy and accountability
Democracy and accountability are the twin sides of the same coil. Democracy leads to accountability which in turn leads to development. Conversely, the lack of democracy leads to a lack of accountability, which in turn stagnates development. For example, as at September 2013, there have been no audited accounts in respect of the six municipalities for on average 15 years. A similar situation prevailed in respect of the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) where 52 of them did not have audited accounts for the last five years. In addition, 18 NDCs never produced audited accounts since they were established in 1994. This is despite the fact that the municipalities and NDCs are in receipt of significant amounts of money from the Treasury as subsidies, not to mention rates and taxes being collected from local residents.
Have we forgotten the experiences of the past and are we not repeating them? A similar scenario played out at the national level under the previous administration when the government seized control of the election machinery and tampered with four successive general elections (1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985) as well as the 1978 Referendum. Democracy was replaced by authoritarian rule. The economy deteriorated so rapidly that by 1981 the country was unable to meet its overseas financial obligations and was declared technically bankrupt. Public accountability ground to a halt for ten years, and only after democratic rule was restored in 1992 were we able to recover. There is therefore a parallel between what took place prior to 1992 and what prevails today at the local government level. How proud are we as a nation that we are making two steps forward and three backwards?
