Dear Editor,
I am forced to write an open letter so that my fellow Guyanese, the EU, the UK, and the United States departments for democracy, are aware of the destruction of local democracy by the government of Guyana. There is no such thing as local democracy in Guyana, it cannot be, when you have the central government in the race for local government elections, dominating, utilizing funds from a 781.9 billion government budget for their hidden campaigns in the name of ‘President’s Outreach’, ‘Because We Care’, and handout of money and other items which we know is a need, but the real reason is to entice the citizens, in local government authorities area to vote for them, just 4 months before the election; it cannot be right.
Editor, the 1980 constitution and its amendments created a political system called inclusionary democracy, which means that the national representatives are the President and Members of Parliament, Regional Representatives, Councilors of the Regional Democratic Councils, lower-tiered Local Government Councilors, Municipality, NDC Village Councils, and Community Cooperatives, all who have their functions. Central government is the dominant force, who collects the revenue of the country but withholds the finance where needed, exclude financial autonomy from local governments, making it difficult for them to do their job, then coming like a God-sent to perform the council’s duty.
Economic blackmail is what is taking place, especially in the area where people are finding it very difficult to live, with the income they receive, whether it is government wages, private sectors’ wages, or self-employed person wages, the money just cannot take care of a family. The money had lost it spending values; in the last 3 years, although it was not devalued against the US dollar, the 8% which was given has lost its value and purchasing power against the dollar.
The game which is played is to spend big money on infrastructure and other development, but give little in wages and benefits to our people. Although we are collecting hundreds of billion more in oil revenue, the cost of living has risen by over 40%. With the cost of living already high, this low increase in wages of 8% will keep the people poor. Then the government will run in with a handout telling the people ‘we care’ in their direct and in their subliminal messages. But if you read the hidden motive, you will realize it is for votes, and if you do not support them, future benefits may pass your home.
The perception that people are getting is that if you speak out against the wrong the government is doing, you will be victimized in different ways, so to prevent victimization and against you getting contracts and other state benefits, people are forced by necessity to give support to the dominant force who are trying to take all power at all cost. The constitution and laws have to be amended to have a level playing field, if not, local government elections will continue to be dominated by the Central Government which uses the people’s funds to campaign against the local groups and individuals in local government authorities area. No party, which has more than 3 seats in parliament should be participating in a local government election, and it should be strictly a constituency election.
It is not fair for the government and big political parties in parliament who already dominate the government, and the regions should also dominate the lower-tier local government authorities. At present the greed for all power is so great that the present Local Government minister took away two of the 8 council seats for the Hararuni/Yarrowkabra NDC, which was given to the council when it was established in 2018 under the APNU + AFC administration. The reduction of the council seats by the government, without consultation with the council or the electorate, is because they think that with 6 council seats they stand a chance to win the council. They only had two seats on the council after the 2018 LGE, APNU 5 and AFC 1. They know the council or the electorates would not agree to the reduction of the council seats from 8 to 6, which would reduce the opportunity for 2 additional councilors. It is so sad to see the people who speak about One Guyana wants to deprive an NDC of 2 seats just to win a council.
Editor, I was the one who was instrumental in lobbying for the Hararuni/Yarrowkabra NDC to be established and for the 8 councilors seats, since I was a councillor for the Region 4 RDC, between 2006 to 2011 and MP from 2015 to 2019. Since the order of the minister to reduce the council seats, I had emailed GECOM, messaged some GECOM Commissioners, the Minister of Local Government, and emailed the President of Guyana and placed the matter in the media. But there has been no positive reply on the matter. Local democracy is dead because of the dirty politics of this government. They need to have a shower when it comes to local government development.
Sincerely,
Michael Carrington
Former MP
