Understanding Local Government System (Part one)

Dear Editor,
Understanding how the Local Government System is structured — its functionality, and how it ought to work — is essential to highlighting the partiality and continued frustrations being imposed by Minister Bulkan and APNU/AFC Government on communities locally.
The basis of establishment is enshrined in Chapter VII, titled ‘Local Democracy’, of the Constitution of Guyana Cap. 1.01, which is instructive on the role and provisions of Government to support the various tiers of governance, including the Municipal, Regional, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs)and other sub-divisions, including village and community councils. For the purpose of this article, focus and much reference is given to, but is not limited to, the treatment of and impact on Regional Councils and NDCs.
In the current framework, as it has been for decades, the organisational functionality of the local government institutions and organs is largely based on the Council, drawn from elected persons from within the Local Authority Areas (LAAs) and complemented by the administrative arm comprised of all other staff, which is headed by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), and the Overseer in the respective cases of Regions and NDCs.
These two officers are often the financial reporting officers, representing Government interests while at the same time performing functions as the Clerk to the Council. Additionally, for the efficacy of resources among others, they ought to ensure that the decisions of Council are executed. For efficient delivery of service, it demands and follows that the administrative arm of the Councils must be subordinate and subjective to the Council, while at the same time reporting to the council and addressing issues of financial improprieties.
Importantly, the gaps created by this conundrum have been recognized, and several actions were taken by Parliament to remedy many discomforting situations that emerged as a consequence of overspills due to different political overtones. One definitive approach coined the passing of legislation to establish the Local Government Commission (LGC), which presents a somewhat balanced approach to bridging the gaps while allowing for controlled development of communities under circumstances reflective of balanced political, regulated, and other key forms of representation.
It is important to note that the legislation which was before Parliamentary committees for many years reflect a corroborative approach to reform and an agreeable position by the main stakeholders. Indeed, the final bill that was vigorously debated, amended and passed in the National Assembly was so passed at a time when the current APNU/AFC government representatives were in Opposition but had the one seat majority. At the same time, it was assented to by President Ramotar, who could have withheld his approval. By now it is widely known that the responsible minister, Ronald Bulkan, and the Granger Government had done everything they could do to delay implementation of the LGC — a Commission whose role is necessary, and one that they had the most significant role in influencing the contents of the Legislation. Having lost the leadership of the Councils in most LAAs, they have reverted to influencing and condoning actions by administrative officers that delay development in areas unpopular to them.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar