Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall on Wednesday dodged questions surrounding the failure to hold elections for Mayors of municipalities and Chairpersons of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
The minister was being questioned in the National Assembly by shadow Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganesh Mahipaul.
In his question, Mahipaul pointed to the Laws of Guyana Chapter 28:02 section 28 (1) and (2) and the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act 2018 which stipulate that the Town Clerks and Overseers are mandated to hold elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor and NDC Chair on or before December 16 of every year.
“Can the Hon. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Nigel Dharamlall, M.P. explain to this Honourable House why were no elections for Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen, Mayors and Deputy Mayors, of the 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and 10 Municipalities respectively, held on or before December 16, 2021, for the ensuing year 2022?” Mahipaul questioned.
However, Dharamlall did not provide a reason for not holding the elections rather he focused on overall Local Government Elections (LGE) – which were due to be held at the end of last year. He reminded the National Assembly that while it is his functional duty to appoint the day for the holding of LGE, the administration of those elections remains vested in the Guyana Elections Commission.
He further reminded that GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh had informed Attorney General Anil Nandlall of the Commission’s inability to hold those elections since it was, at the time, without a Chief Election Officer – who is responsible for overseeing the process.
“…as a result, and for that reason, Local Government Elections 2021 was not held. In consequence thereof by order number 32 of 2021 dated 8 December 2021, I exercised the powers that were vested in me by Section 36 (a) from the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to postpone those elections,” Dharamlall said.
However, he did not address the questions asked and when pressed by Mahipaul for an answer, Dharamlall said “…elections were slated for 2021 and as per correspondence of the Chair of GECOM, I acted in that way [and] I have no further contribution on this.”
There was some back and forth on this question but Dharamlall did not budge and could not provide an answer as to why there was no election of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and NDC Chair.
He did point to the gazetted order informing that the life of the existing councils has been extended until such time that elections are held.
Mahipaul reminded Dharamlall that internal elections for NDCs and Municipalities are not administered by the Elections Commission rather it is the Town Clerks and Overseers. However, Dharamlall continued to dodge the questions.
“As I’ve indicated earlier, we were advised by the Guyana Elections Commission that the elections which were due in 2021 that was total local government elections, we were advised that they were not possible and I acted on that advice. There is an order postponing [the election] that was published on the eighth of December and which would have continued the life of the councils until such time that we have elections,” he said.
When asked why the request for an extension of the life of the councils as well as the postponing of LGE was not brought to the National Assembly to be ratified, Dharamlall argued that the order was gazetted and there was no need for the Parliament’s involvement.
