Local Govt Commission soon to be appointed – Jagdeo

– notes importance of stopping “pernicious plot” in local Govt system

The Local Government Commission (LGC), which has an oversight responsibility for local Government organs, is likely to be appointed soon. This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who noted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is actually pushing for the timely appointment of this constitutional body.
During his most recent press conference, Jagdeo recalled the efforts of the Government, through Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Texeira, to ensure that Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton was given a chance to submit a nominee, only for her to be bypassed by the Opposition Leader. Jagdeo expressed the belief however, that this process has since moved forward.
“The Local Government Commission, the last I know is that Gail Texeira wrote requesting a nominee from the leader of the opposition. I think he may have submitted that nominee or a number of nominees, because according to the Act he has a role to play.”

“So, he may have submitted, I think I saw that the nominees have been submitted. So, I guess by now, there’s some Ministerial involvement. The Ministers have to submit their nominees too. And I guess as soon as that’s done, the President will appoint a Local Government Commission,” Jagdeo disclosed.
According to the Vice President, the PPP/C Government wants to ensure that the LGC is in place, as quickly as possible. Jagdeo was further confident that this will be done soon. He further noted that this will be important, “particularly with the pernicious plot I spoke of.”
This ‘plot’ referenced by Jagdeo, relates to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the announcement by the Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will be moving to have properties in the city reevaluated.
While the PPP/C Government has made its opposition to this plan clear on the basis that this will unjustly drive-up property taxes for persons, the Mayor recently doubled down on his intention to follow through with this plan.
“They may be trying to put more pressure on people, with the hope that they would blame the Government and then result in a more favourable view of APNU/AFC in the electoral process. So, I anticipate that will be done shortly,” Jagdeo said.
Minister Teixeira had previously raised the issue that whenever she writes to the Leader of the Opposition, he would instead respond directly to the Office of the President, resulting in a breakdown in communication.

The most recent breakdown was relating to the opposition’s nominees for the Local Government Commission. While Teixeira’s Ministry had written the Opposition Leader requesting the submission of his nominees, Norton responded, but sent his letter to the Office of the President. It is understood that Norton nominated Sherwin Benjamin, Joan Ann Ramascindo and Nicola Trotman.
When he was asked last month to comment on the issue during his press conference, Norton had indicated that Teixeira is not on his level and therefore, he prefers to communicate directly with the Office of the President.
According to Norton, “if she continues to write me, I will continue to not respond to her and respond directly to the President, because she says she writes on behalf of the President. So, I assume that with she writing on behalf of the President, I would want somebody writing on my behalf and engaging at her level.”
The last Local Government Commission was sworn in back in 2021, for a three-year term. On that commission were Government nominees Clinton Collymore, Carol Sooba, and Norman Whittaker; opposition nominees Clement Corlette, Joan-Ann Romascindo and Nicola Trotman, and Carvil Duncan and Julius Faerber. The commission has responsibility over all local Government organs.