Councillors of the Toevlugt/ Patentia Neighbourhood are longing for the holding of local government elections so that the decision-making process can be reverted to the local government level thereby giving neighbourhoods the freedom in carrying out their fiduciary duty to rate payers.
This view was expressed to Stabroek News by Chairman of the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighbourhood Council Roy Bennet on Tuesday. He cited as an example a decision by the Neighbourhood Council to put up a barrier across one of the new roads of its housing schemes. This, he said, was to the ire of some residents who petitioned the then local government minister, Harripersaud Nokta who subsequently ordered the council to remove the barrier without querying with the NDC, the reason for putting up the same.
As stipulated in the Laws of 28:01 under which the council operates, Chairman Bennet said,