The clerks for the three new towns are currently temporary appointments and permanent appointments will be made in consultation with the town councils, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has said.
“That responsibility is currently administered by the ministry as it has been in the absence of the operationalisation of the [Local Government] Commis-sion,” Bulkan told Stabroek News when asked about the selection of town clerks. He acknowledged that there are currently acting town clerks in some of those areas. Asked how the permanent appointments will be made, Bulkan said this will be done in consultation with the town councils. In terms of whether government will wait until the operationalization of the Local Government Commission, Bulkan responded: “There is not a clear determination as we speak, it could be either way.”
As it relates to perceptions that the ministry is delaying the appointment of the Commission so that it could appoint the town clerks, Bulkan made it clear that the clerks would have to answer to their respective councils.
“The clerks for all of our local democratic organs, this administration has made it clear that they are servants of the council, they are not masters of the council. So the authority of the council are the political councillors. The clerks are mainly there to oversee the administrative process and to manage the administration but the policies are the determination of the elected councillors,” he asserted.
Asked if there are plans to review the employment of current town clerks, Bulkan said there is always an ongoing process of review based on performance and other criteria and considerations namely their effectiveness and they have to enjoy the confidence of the respective councils to which they were attached.
Recently, Bulkan told Stabroek News that the long-awaited Local Government Commission should be set up by the end of June.
The Commission’s functions, outlined at clause 13 (1) of the Act, say that the Commission shall have power to deal with all matters relating to the regulation and staffing of local government organs including employment and dismissal of staff and with dispute resolution within and between local government organs, and in particular, shall monitor and review the performance and implementation of policies of all local government organs, including policies of taxation and protection of the environment.
It also has the power to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of all local government organs in order to promote effective local governance; investigate any matter under its purview and propose remedial action to the Minister, whenever or wherever necessary; monitor and review all existing and proposed legislation, and or policies and measures relating to local government organs and to make recommendations for any legislation or any amendments to any legislation and or policy to the Minister; and examine and propose ways of enhancing the capacity of local government organs.
