Guyana gets full membership of Caribbean Local Government Association

The intervention of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) has resulted in Guyana now returning to full-term membership status, under the Caribbean Local Government Association (CALGA).
CALGA Second Vice President Anthony Roberts on Sunday wrapped up a three-day visit to Guyana where he delivered the good news to the Communities Ministry and the GAM. The CALGA official arrived last Thursday and met with Government and the GAM, noting that Guyana was elevated from observer status under the CALGA after fulfilling the relevant requirements. Guyana’s status was downgraded a few years ago, but measures were taken by the GAM to correct the

lapse. Roberts also expressed his satisfaction with the push for decentralisation and commended Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan for the positive report he received from the local municipalities, as he encouraged Guyana to keep pushing in the direction of full autonomy for local organs. He also noted that there was still minimal friction between local organs and central and regional governments over interference.
Minister Bulkan, in response, thanked CALGA for the confidence expressed and pledged Guyana’s full support to the regional organ, while committing to ensuring local government organs were fully equipped to carry out their functions effectively. GAM, which was instrumental in facilitating the visit which followed a recent CALGA strategic planning meeting in Trinidad, has recorded its second international success since being resuscitated, after earlier gaining  Guyana a place `on the executive body of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. GAM President Carwyn Holland, who is also the outgoing Mayor of Linden, thanked CALGA for recognising the importance of Guyana’s contribution regionally and lobbied for Guyana to be the next host of the CALGA executive meeting, slated for June 2018. Holland noted that Guyana was a founder member of the Association and it was most fitting for the country to be the host. Roberts was also a Guest Speaker at the Corriverton Phagwah celebrations and met with the Mayor and Councillors there. Last Saturday, he held a meeting with the GAM executives and later travelled to Linden for sight-seeing and a meeting with the outgoing Mayor and Councillors. Roberts also called for Guyana’s support as the regional body seeks observer status with the Caribbean Community (Caricom).