Critical role and necessity of the LGC cannot be understated

Dear Editor,
For more than two years, this column has vociferously advocated for the establishment of the Local Government Commission (LGC). Indeed, we embrace and recognise the contributions of other commentators who have called daily for Government to act on this crucial Commission over the past months.
The critical role and necessity of the LGC cannot be understated! There were seeming objective crafting of bills and many amendments to relevant local government legislation leading to the 2015 General and Regional Elections, to address improvements to local governance. These were seen as necessary by both the then Government and Opposition. Even President David Granger when he was Leader of the Opposition, made strong calls on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government to appoint the Local Government Commission.
There are serious problems in the Local Government System! Staffing matters as one issue is too numerous to detail, although much mention was previously made of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) inaction towards its contaminating and destabilising effects. As a consequence, the elected councils are finding it extremely difficult to deal with non-performance and the new level of indiscipline emerging in the Local Authority Areas (LAA).
The serious and un-ending problems at the Regional Democratic Councils and Neighbourhood Councils can be easily solved at the level of the LGC.
As it is now, Bulkan’s Ministry is providing direct biased monitoring and controlling oversite over Local Authority Areas. This is because of the APNU/AFC’s significant loss at the 2016 Local Government Elections, and it is clear that the various councils cannot function efficiently without the LGC. Observably, this APNU/AFC Administration relishes the dictatorial and authoritative free for all way. This is in order for them to do whatever they wish, without informing the residents or their elected representatives.
Most recently, we observed published articles about the ugly invasion by the Communities Ministry to facilitate the relocation of some squatters within the Mocha Arcadia NDC without consultation; this is the workings of the same Ministry that has the responsibility to appoint the LGC. It makes it clearer that the coalition Government does not have any respect for the views of community leadership. It must also be noted that other sections of the population are doing what they want without consulting the relevant elected bodies.
Some private citizens and organisations are also moving in the communities and doing what they want without consultation.
More seriously is the fact that the Private Sector bodies are moving in with their money and just pay off some people, build and do whatever they want, given the depreciated support to the elected councils by the Government.
This lawlessness is leading to extreme levels of corruption, facilitated the Government.
The local government system must be allowed to function in the interest of the people who elected the leaders!
The Local Government Commission must be appointed now!

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar