Introduction:
Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change to submit a weekly column on local government and related matters. The PPP/C has declined the offer.
Public clamour for the holding of local government elections – due since 1997 – has been insistent over the years. A Partnership for National Unity has been making regular calls beginning in early 2012. Political party leaders, civil society and members of the diplomatic community in 2013 voiced their hope that these long overdue elections would finally be held.
A joint statement was issued by civil society organizations and western missions on March 5th, 2014. They all urged that local government elections be held by the present Parliamentary deadline of August 1st, 2014.
The signatories to this statement were the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, the British High Commission, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, the Guyana Bar Association,
