Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change to submit a weekly column on local government and related matters. The PPP/C has declined the offer. Only APNU has submitted a column this week.
The President is expected to lead. President Donald Ramotar, in this regard, has three questions to answer. These are: (i) will he allow local democracy to prevail or will he continue to smother it; (ii) will he abide by and uphold the Constitution and laws of Guyana, and (iii) will he be a Leader or continue to be a follower?
His responses to these questions will help to define the nature of his leadership during his tenure as President.
The laws of Guyana provide for local democracy. The Constitution is unambiguous in this regard. It provides for autonomy of local democratic organs [of which there are 81, namely 10 regional democratic councils (RDCs), 6 municipalities and 65 neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs)].
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration of President Ramotar is relentlessly pursuing a policy of ‘re-centralization’ instead of ensuring the ‘de-centralization’ that the Constitution specifies. This programme is being executed, often tyrannically, by the appointed element or officers within local democratic organs or Regional Executive Officers (in the case of RDCs), Clerks (in the case of municipalities) and Overseers (in the case of NDCs). These officials are being used to undermine, usurp and even bypass the authority of elected councils.
The travesty being perpetrated by the Georgetown Town Clerk (ag) only happens to be the most visible owing to the city’s capital status. Similar high-handed and atrocious behaviour is taking place in councils countrywide away from public glare. This is all a result of a deliberate policy of the PPP/C to exert excessive control for narrow partisan purposes. The victims are the people who have to suffer as a result of inefficiencies and sub-standard delivery of local services resulting from the dysfunctionality created by the central gov`t.
The PPP/C administration, showing its true colours, is casting the blame for neglect of communities
