Local Govt Commission being stifled by Govt – members

…say its purse still being controlled by Central Govt

In one of their first public appearances in their new role, members of the Local Government Commission aired their grievances during a press conference on Friday at the office of the Leader of the Opposition. Chief among their concerns is what they term the usurpation of their powers.
The PPP members on the commission had much to say about the workings of the commission. Commissioners Norman Whittaker, Clinton Collymore and Carol

Sooba were sworn in since October 2017.
However, according to them, the body is being propped up as just a front, while Central Government essentially runs the show. The commissioners complained that Government has been stymieing them at every level, whereas Government is actually supposed to ensure the commission’s autonomy.
“According to the Constitution, the commission assumes control of the Local Government system, basically in the democratic councils and municipalities. But while the law has been passed and certain allocations of finance have been made, the regime, through Minister of Communities (Ronald) Bulkan, continues to hold on to vital areas of authority belonging by law to the commission,” Commissioner Clinton Collymore said.
“So we have a difficulty accessing funds…a difficulty accessing space and accommodation…and a difficulty (in) how the commission responds to the public on public matters. We are unable to physically and efficiently respond to

complaints in the Local Government System made by people.”
He revealed that the monies that have been voted for the commission in the 2018 budget are yet to be made available to the commission’s own account. Instead, the Communities Ministry holds the purse strings.

No place of abode
Meanwhile, they can no longer meet at the National Assembly, as the agreement they had with the Parliamentary Office to use the committee rooms for meetings expired in February last.
Collymore explained that the building identified to accommodate the commission does not cater for the commissioners.
Explaining further, his colleague Commissioner Carol Sooba expressed disappointment at the building on Eping Avenue identified for the commission. She gave her impressions of an impromptu tour of the building, located on Eping Avenue, which was facilitated by Commission Chairman Mortimer Mingo.

“He showed me the room for the Chairman’s office, and another room for Deputy Chairman Andrew Garnett, and a boardroom and space to have rooms for the secretary for the commission. So I was curious. I asked where the other members of the commission would be housed.”
“I said members of the public would have problems. They would come to visit, they would want to discuss the problems within the regions and towns in confidence, he said. “Well, they don’t have any accommodation for the commission. If they want to meet, they can meet in the boardroom. Just like that. So I left.”
Former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker related that the Government has been written to on numerous occasions about the situation. However, the situation remains very much the same, and when contacted by those desirous of making complaints, they cannot refer the complainant to an office.
“This morning an NDC on the East Coast called. We have a complaint and we’ve been advised to call the commission. Where are your offices? The Minister was made aware by letters. We have these challenges, these challenges, we need to step in.”
Local Government elections are expected to be held later this year. But with the LGC, I support the position it is in, the commissioners are concerned when, if ever, they will be able to carry out their role independently. Efforts to contact Minister Bulkan on Friday were futile.

Independence
The Commission was sworn in last year October, after a lengthy delay. The parliamentary Opposition had named its nominees to the Local Government Commission since 2016. However, since the Government did not submit its nominations, this resulted in a deadlock.
One of the first public deadlines that Minister Bulkan gave for the body to become functional was at a press conference during the time of the March 2016 Local Government Elections. Asked for an explanation during the latter part of the month, the Minister had moved the deadline to the end of June 2016.
In the Budget estimates for 2016, some $30 million were allocated by the Government to the non-functioning commission. When asked, Bulkan had stated that this was to allow the Commission to operate independently of Central Government.
The commission is charged with, among other things, control over who gets appointed as officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and other local authorities. In addition, it would have to approve budgets for the NDCs.
By law, the commission is to be made up of eight members. The members of the commission include four nominated from the Government, one from the unions, and three nominees from the Leader of the Opposition.
The Commission’s members are Mortimer Mingo, Clement Corlette, Marlon Williams, Jo Ann Romascindo, Andrew Garnett, former Local Government Ministers Whittaker and Collymore, and former Georgetown Town Clerk Sooba.