The importance of this year’s Local Government Elections, which are slated to take place on November 12, cannot be overemphasised when one looks at the current state of affairs and worrying trends with respect to local governance that are occurring across the length and breadth of Guyana.
After all, the existence of local government has always been defended on the basis that it is a crucial aspect of the process of democratisation and intensification of mass participation in the decision-making process. No political system is considered complete and democratic if it does not have a system of local government.
Local government, therefore, serves a two-fold purpose. The first purpose is the administrative purpose of supplying goods and services; the other purpose is to represent and involve citizens in determining specific local public needs, and how these local needs can be met.
It is in this light that it must be observed that several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are in a dysfunctional state, and have proven since the last LGE elections that they are either incapable of delivering on the principles of good governance, or do not have the political ability to prioritise their work-agenda in order to have the most cost-effective works undertaken first.
Also, these NDCs have been accused by residents and officials within the hierarchy of various administrative regions of engaging in blatant acts of corruption and political vindictiveness. Others also have, from time to time, been accused of stonewalling projects and local initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of locals, in order to achieve a specific agenda.
At other NDCs, particularly in areas won by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party at the last elections, there are major conflicts between the overseers and some of the regional democratic organs as well as officials who are representing the interests of Central Government.
The situation is no different at the municipal level, but is seemingly worse, with elected Councillors being accused of very serious breaches, financial and otherwise, of the law and by-laws. For instance, the Georgetown City Council is perhaps the most unpopular municipal body in the country at this time. Its policies have led to widespread resistance from businesses and residents alike, who believe that they will result in further hardship, and will not, in any way, improve the functionality of the country’s capital city or return it to its former glory.
The two main officials at that Council – Its Mayor and Town Clerk – have been described as lacking integrity to continue to serve on many fronts. Their Council continues to be plagued by scandals and allegations of corruption, which have weakened public confidence in the local democratic organs.
These elections, therefore, offer Guyanese the opportunity to assess the performances of their local leaders before they make a decision to cast their ballots or withhold support for the re-election of certain officer bearers and political parties. They also present the populace with a better opportunity to vent their frustration at the manner in which the country’s socio-economic fortunes have been declining since 2015, as they demand significant improvements and progress in key areas.
Also important is the fact that these elections precede the General and Regional Elections, and will be used as a measuring stick to assess the popularity of not only those who are seeking re-election, but those who are presenting themselves now as replacements.
Recall that, back in 2016, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and the current Political Leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, recognised the important role that local governance plays in the wider scheme of things. In October 2013, her coalition Government lost the Local Government elections. Soon after, her Government was booted from office by the people, who had complained about the highly unpopular policies being pursued by their elected local officials, the continuous problems being faced in their communities with respect to crime, and the sad state of affairs there in relation to drainage and irrigation and the road network.
The former Prime Minister also learnt from her post mortem, after being defeated, that one cannot underestimate the power of local democracy and the ballot, especially when people feel put upon or discontented with some policies.
She later remarked that “it is through Local Government that we understand the things people feel, not only what is reported in the news. It is through Local Government that we can touch the lives of people individually, encourage them, help them, support them, and stand and fight with them. This Local Government election will be most important in taking down the face of arrogance that the Rowley PNM is hiding behind. We must show them that they will not be allowed to use political power as a weapon against people in the way they have… It will be challenging, difficult at times, and even discouraging.”
