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Local govt reform on the rocks

Corbin seeks meeting with President
The main opposition PNCR yesterday accused the ruling PPP/C of trying to arbitrarily abandon the local government reform process and party leader Robert Corbin has written President Bharrat Jagdeo requesting an urgent meeting on the situation.

According to the PNCR, last week Clinton Collymore, PPP/C Co-chair of the bi-partisan task force on local government reform, submitted a memorandum to the Presi-dent, recommending that its remaining work be taken up by Cabinet because of a deadlock. Corbin, who received a copy of the memo in his capacity as Opposition Leader, yesterday denied any deadlock and described Collymore’s action as unilateral, explaining that it was done without the knowledge of the opposition members of task force. Corbin said Collymore’s action had to be approved by the PPP/C, which he accused of trying to derail local government reform as mandated by the constitution and outlined in the draft Report of the Task Force. “It is known that the PPP is unhappy with many of the recommendations, some of which will remove the powers of the Minister with the establishment of the Local Government Commission,” he said, reiterating the Joint Parliamentary Opposition Parties’ position that the reforms must be put in place to ensure that the local government system was liberated.

Asked to comment on Corbin’s response, Presiden-tial Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira told the Stabroek News that she had not seen his letter. She did say, however, that a response would be relayed to the public at the appropriate time.

At a press conference at Congress Place Sophia yesterday, Corbin said he has suggested to President Jagdeo that he convene an urgent meeting of the relevant stakeholders to discuss the developments, since Collymore’s move has implications for the holding of local government elections and it puts the entire reform process in jeopardy. Corbin was flanked by the other task force Co-Chair Vincent Alexander and its opposition members Basil Williams and Llewellyn John.

Corbin explained that Collymore’s memorandum, dated October 2, 2008, purported to provide a report on the work of the Joint Task Force and make recommendations. He said the memorandum has several factual inaccuracies, and “appears designed to arbitrarily abandon the work of the task force and transfer the incomplete tasks to Cabinet.”

Corbin said that the basis of Collymore’s recommendations is the claim that the task force was deadlocked on vital aspects of various bills. However, the memorandum makes no mention of a record or recollection by any opposition member that the task force was deadlocked on any issue, he said, adding that Collymore unilaterally suspended the task force meetings with effect from July 22, this year to attend to engagements connected with the PPP/C’s 29th Congress. Collymore told the other members of the task force that they would be notified in writing when the meetings would resume, but there was never any further communication.

When asked by Stabroek News about this last week Collymore had said “There is more to the mortar than the pestle. You can quote me on that.”

On August 25, 2008, task force member Basil Williams wrote Collymore expressing the PNCR’s concerns about the tardiness with which the government’s representatives on the task force were attending to its work. Collymore again did not respond.

Alexander and other opposition members of the task force were not given copies of the memorandum, and Corbin said questions arise as to the motive behind the unilateral move.

Corbin said the only piece of legislation that was discussed and generally agreed upon was the proposed legislation on the new electoral system. The PPP, however, refused to include the provisions for village/council elections in the proposed law and there was disagreement over the minister’s power to determine the timing of elections for local government organs and the task force agreed to refer those issues to the President and Leader of the Opposition. Corbin said that to date this has not been done, but added that progress on this bill was still awaiting refinement of the proposals for recall from the legal draftspersons at the Attorney General’s Chambers. The other draft bills before the task force are also still awaiting consideration.

Currently, the task force is yet to complete its discussion on three significant areas - the establishment of a local government commission, objective criteria for fiscal transfers from the centre to the local government organs and continuous education on the new local government system.

Collymore’s unilateral action, Corbin stated, causes concerns that the government is about to breach several undertakings given to the political parties, the donor community and many other stakeholders. The task force had decided that all the reforms to the local government system would be taken as a package, endorsed by all stakeholders, including, the donor community. As a result, he said Collymore’s action would threaten to destroy the justification for the postponement of Local Government Elections since 1997.

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23 Responses to “Local govt reform on the rocks”

Andy
on October 11th, 2008 8:33 am

Over a decade and no local government elections! Why? Is it just the PNC’s fault, as the PPP would have us believe? Or is the PPP government playing the delay game to ensure it has enough party groups on Region Four so it will be ready to put up a formidable candidate for Mayor of Georgetown?

This government does not have a vision for Guyana’s recovery and development beyond what we are seeing with loans and grants, foreign remittances and money laundering activities, and is more obssessed with how to retain power while focusing on acquiring more power. The PPP is in power drunk mode! The people be damned!

[Reply to this]
badlall
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 11:23 am:
THERE WILL NO LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS. THE PPP WANTS TO WIN THE MAYORSHIP OF GEORGETOWN AND UNTIL THEY CAN DO THE ELECTIONS ARE DOOMED. GUYANA NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT BACKWARDS. PETTY POLITICS PARTY AND THE DICTATOR AT WORK.

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal
on October 11th, 2008 9:41 am

You have a valid point Andy. It’s usually a bit of a delay so that at the last minute in a hap-hazard manner they could capitalise on the “snafu” to fulfill their sinister objectives. Then their supporters come out & say that the PNC/R did it. I hope they recall that the PPP/C was (s)elected supposedly to bring an end to the PNC/R style of governance & give a better life to GUYANESE. Under the PPP/C & in their less than 28 yr reign they have done much more with regards to corruption & our migration has skyrocketed. They need Region four to fulfill their plans. I hope the opposition (even though Corbin seems to be a dead horse) DOES NOT let that happen or Guyana will be in a worse position, as impossible as it may seem.

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 12:34 pm:
The PPP/C was elected and not selected as was the PNC, they did better and is continuing to do , it is there for those who has eyes to see,that is in 16 yrs against the PNC 28yrs, although the PPP/C had to fetch the PNC burden of US $2.1bln, slo fiya mo fiya ,the Buxton ” Freedom Fighters” etc etc. There is no more Guy-lines, people are free to speak their mind like you Fulano , me and uncle Freddie, people are also free to travel with cash in their pocket unlike the the PNC time it was a crime to travel with your own money, and you were allowed to print newspaper without newsprint so stop comparing the PPP with the now expired PNC come on board Fulano

[Reply to this]
tiger
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 1:09 pm:
oh yea coolieman???, so how come benschop, hinkson was jailed for just trying to speak their minds, how come waddle was killed because he tried to speak his mind, and let say this, you try to travel with cash in your pockets and see if you would,nt be robbed in an instant , the reason being the ppp govt failed to nipped the crime situation in the bud before it escalates to where it is now.

gopie
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 2:43 pm:
COOLIEMAN,YOU HAVE SAID IT… THOSE WHO HAS EYES,READ IT……MANY OF THEM CANT READ AND UNDERSTAND SO HOW CAN THEY BE ABLE TO SPOT THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PPP AND THE PNC……THEY ARE NOTHING BUT A PACK OF UNGRATEFUL AND SELFISH GUYANESE WHO ALWAYS TRY TO FIND FAULTS IN THE GOVT……THE PPP DESERVE TO WIN AND HAVE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL GOVT. ANYWAY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CLEAN UP THE THE RUBBISH WHICH THE PNC CANNOT HANDLE…THE CITY IS DIRTY ,ALL BECAUSE OF THE PNC INCOMPETENCE….AND WHO GETS THE BLAME?…..THE PPP….PEOPLE MAY SAY THAT I AM SIDING WITH THE PPP…..NO! I AM NOT…I AM NOT IN FOR POLITICS, BUT WHERE PRAISES ARE DUE…LET IT BE GIVEN..BHARAT IS A SUCCESS PRESIDENT..THE PPP HAS A LOT TO OFFER YET… PEOPLE JUST CANT SIT IN THEIR ARM CHAIR IN A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT EVEN THEIR OWN AND WANT TO BE CRITICAL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BACK HOME…

Fulano de Tal
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 4:34 pm:
Although I swore that your comments are not worth my time I will say this. Since the PPP/C has done so much good why don’t you, your family & those who think like you come back to Guyana & invest your knowledge & earnings?

denobrega
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 9:56 pm:
Guyana was a mess under the pnc and is a mess under the ppp,

Charriot
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 9:57 pm:
Yes!! they’re doing a better job at destroying the country with their cowboy style politics. Oh yeah!! and free speech, to whom are you referring, yourself and the government cronnies? because there is no free speech in Guyana. This crazy talk of Jagan being a champion for democracy is ludicrist. Jagan is a COMMUNIST to the BONE, also his wife JANET.

drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 11:43 pm:
…….i did not want to respond to coolieman say!!………i would like to say to he or she who so ever you are that crime acompanies drugs……..in the history of guyana’s development never have this country experience so much drugs……the ppp/c has manuplated the life of the poor and powerless for there own personal gain……go to all the ppp strong hold and check on the level of education of most of the men/women……you will see the women are head of the men….however these women are beaten/battered/abuse quietly into poverty because of the backwardness the men live in…..if the ppp was so good why the ppp don’t attack the moss, the temple, and somecommunity base organization the uphold beaten and battered attitude……..our women are the face of our society…..they brought us into this world and made us men……….however the ppp don’t see it that way ……….they see it diffrent………poor women in guyana suffer the most and this why continue to say no two poor people must married anymore inguyana…..the ppp will soon fall……
blahblah
on October 11th, 2008 10:00 am

Imagine something as simple as a local government reform they can’t complete in that country.How do they expect people to have faith in them. Corbin and the opposition asleep on this issue.

[Reply to this]
quibian
on October 11th, 2008 10:42 am

come on andy, who do you think were making excuses about voters lists and any other petty things? the pnc of cource!

[Reply to this]
OBSERVER
on October 11th, 2008 12:59 pm

The President should respond to these charges. Local government elections is a form of “inclusive governing. The government should keep promises made to civil society and engage them in addessing these complaints. The political parties need non polictical partners to get and resolve what is true and what is not. The Presiident must not see these issues as between two political parties.

[Reply to this]
birds
on October 11th, 2008 7:26 pm

How convenient all the letter writing and no reply from Collymore. Mr Corbin and his team has to keep mothering this situation carefully. Since 1997 the Local Government Election has been delayed and they continue to make excuses.

The Opposition have to let the public know what is going on. Maybe the dealing tactic of Collymore needs following up closely and not letting him or the President get away with whatever hidden agenda they may have.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
on October 11th, 2008 8:04 pm

Good job.Local government,however,which was all hullaboo,”we will do this and that,” so much earmarked for all kinds of unseen projects,was never visible in any real form since 1964.It was always lacking. Credibility.The government should nevertheless not bow to the whims and fancies of those who were the destroyers of Guyana.

[Reply to this]
DESMOND WADE
on October 11th, 2008 9:39 pm

iIT is most unfortunate that the politics of Guyana has much to be desired and until that old ugly face of prejudice is removed from our land there will be no JUSTICE AND NO PEACE.This is evidenced by the fact of all the innocent blood shed in the country.( you tell me just how good it is in guyana now) twenty- eighth, thirty, forty years from now and we may well see the same problems in the country.I don’t think we get it ,or perhaps,we just don’t want to admit it ….OUR PROBLEM IS THAT OLD ..” RACE HATE”.. IT IS TIME FOR US TO WAKE UP THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL….ITS A TIME FOR CHANGE ,FOR FRESH AND INSPIRING IDEAS TO RUN OUR COUNTRY…..AWAY!!!! WITH THIS OLD DICTOtorial regime .Let’s have a president and a parliment who works for the good of the land one whose heart is for the success and prosperity of all GUYANESE…………..REMEMBER MR. PRESIDENT GOD SAID , ” A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND….THEY ARE ALL GUYANESE ,REGARDLESS OF THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN…REMEMBER ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS CAN LIFT UP A NATION……………. NOT SIN.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 12:51 pm:
THINK.HOUSE WAS DIVIDED IN 1964 WHEN IT WAS USURPED BY ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT NOT “OF THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE,OR BY THE PEOPLE.” BETTER EXPLAIN YOURSELF BETTER HERE.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
on October 11th, 2008 10:14 pm

The same way the Jagan PPP sabotaged growth in Burnham time, is the same thing Jagdeo PPP/C is doing today, their undermining the Local government administration, (which is lead by H. Greene) so the people can be tired of them, and vote them out at elections.

I have documents to proove my comments.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 8:46 pm:
Then go to government house with your documents and confront the accused.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 12:27 am:
Yeah!! So I can end up like Waddell? I’m not that stupid.
gopie
on October 12th, 2008 6:05 am

FULANO DE TAL….. I HAVE HUGH INVESTMENTS IN GUYANA I HAVE MOST OF MY FAMILY THERE….I VISITED GUYANA AT LEAST 4 TIMES PER YEAR…YOU DONT HAVE A CLUE WHO I AM…THAT IS WHY I CAN SAY THAT GUYANA IS ON THE ROAD TO FULL RECOVERY UNDER THE PRESENT GOVT….ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME…..I HAVE A PROPERTY IN THE USA…I ALSO VISITED THERE QUITE A LOT….I VISITED MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, AND I CAN ANALISE SITUATIONS….GUYANA IS ON THE MOVE….YOU LEFT YOUR COUNTRY AND STUCK IN AMERICA ,BELIEVING YOU ARE IN PARADISE…

[Reply to this]
geeteerebel
on October 12th, 2008 12:06 pm

Just as a FYI…. local governments are being setup is the most dangerous and corrupt country on the planet “Iraq”…. Speaks volumes about where we are in Guyana……

Why can’t the local leaders get together and form the local government. Why do you need permission from the central government?

Local leaders can start by running a “yea or neh” referendum where the local regions people vote to move forward with their democracy. (This happens in California all the time)

Democracy = de-centralize
centralize = dictatorship

[Reply to this]
Caesar
on October 13th, 2008 8:46 pm

Directionless Charriot,Jagan was leader of Guyana five times. Elected by the people.He was the first elected premier and president of Guyana.All others are illegal, and their stolen presidency does not count. Burnham was a socialist/communist/atheist.He said “socialism or death” and got death.On the operating table. Learn boy.

[Reply to this]