Dear Editor,
The Government of Guyana must be commended for ensuring that local government elections are being held this year. It is interesting to note that other than the two main political parties, a new youth group named The Bartica Independence Green Alliance (BIGA) is contesting local government elections in Bartica.
BIGA Chairman, Mr Holbert Knights, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on January 14, 2016, said the alliance took a decision to contest the elections in response to the cries of the people. He went on to say, “The Bartica Independence Green Alliance (BIGA) [was] driven to contest the elections based on feedback received from the main demographic, which indicated that there is discontent with the current leadership in Bartica. The people are more open to the idea of choosing leaders that reflect their choice, rather than proportional representation…”
History confirms Mr Knights’ statement that leaders who are chosen on the basis of proportional representation have a tendency to be more dedicated to their masters. These leaders are mostly chosen, not for their functional competence or community leadership track record, but mainly because of party loyalty. It is time that Guyana moved away from proportional representation at the local government level, since we have seen that this breeds incompetence, nepotism, and most of all, mismanagement of resources.
Chairman Knights is correct when he stated that there is a discontent with the current leadership in Bartica. This is documented in the Stabroek News of June 27, 2015, captioned ‘Some Bartica residents want “non performing” Bradford gone -regional chairman defends tenure, says will do as party asks.’ The Regional Chairman’s response that he will do as the party asks, confirms the argument that leaders chosen by proportional representation see themselves as not accountable to the people, but to their party.
In all fairness to Mr Bradford he felt then and he does now that the opposition to him was just a small group of disgruntled people. The establishment of BIGA demonstrates that the disgruntled group has now grown to a movement and is now contesting all nine constituencies in Region 7 for the upcoming local government elections. It is also attracting a growing number of young people in Bartica. This reality must be quite discomfiting to the political parties.
From my interaction with members of BIGA, when asked about their political affiliation all have given unwavering support to the leadership of their respective parties at the national level, but they felt that nothing was done locally by their leaders since 2011 to address their legitimate concerns. Thus BIGA is providing an opportunity for them to be involved in a grass roots participatory democracy.
Even though people are very optimistic about the local government elections, specifically the option to vote for their leaders for their respective constituencies, there are some concerns as it relates to the top-up list, which is done by proportionate representation. It my understanding that people on the top-up list have been chosen by their respective parties and do not need the blessing of the people. The question being asked is what were the criteria used to select representatives on the top-up list, and who would these representatives be answerable to?
BIGA attracts members irrespective of their political and religious persuasion, who are committed to collaborating with the constituencies to elect leaders who have the passion and competence to work with stakeholders for the development of Bartica. The elected leaders will be answerable to the people.
BIGA must be commended for offering an alternative to the party politics that has dominated our local government for years. It has recommenced an old discourse on what the prerequisites for community leaders are, for example integrity and a proven track record of community involvement and of getting things done.
It is said that when leaders are no longer beholden to the people who elected them, corruption is the result.
Yours faithfully,
Ignatius Prowell
