Village Council Elections: Hinterland village leaders urged to “get affairs in order” ahead of elections

…this includes submission of financial reports – Sukhai

Amerindian and hinterland village leaders have been urged to get their affairs in order and ensure that their village’s financial reports are submitted to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry ahead of this year’s Village Council elections.
This call has been issued by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, on Wednesday, during the commissioning of several developmental projects in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
In a couple of months, residents of more than 200 Amerindian villages across Guyana would cast their votes for new toshaos and councillors, who would then serve for a period of three years, in keeping with the Amerindian Act of 2006.
The submission of audited reports of the financial affairs of these villages and asset registers that account for both movable and immovable village assets is a crucial step in ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of resources by the local councils, and by extension the Government.
In this regard, the Amerindian Affairs Minister has urged members of the councils to prioritise the submission of these reports, as not only would the councils benefit, but also the residents of the villages in the long run.
“There is a handful of villages that don’t subscribe to submitting their financial report…but they’re in breach of the law when they don’t send in to the Ministry or to the Minister, as prescribed by law, their annual financial report. I am encouraging the village councils that, by March the 31, all annual financial reports should be in at the Ministry,” the Minister has said.
Further, Minister Sukhai underscored the importance of smooth transition to leadership, thereby avoiding any developmental delays within villages. In this regard, she admonished village councils not to spend large sums of money during this time, in an effort to ensure that administrative funds are in place for the new councillors following the elections.
“When there is a handing-over ceremony, many villages that have new councils, they always spend the rest of the year quarrelling over the financial status of the village, and they lose six months of work because they make all kind of spurious allegations: that the previous council didn’t leave any money, or that they don’t have the records, etc,” the Amerindian Affair Minister explained.
Moreover, by March 17, Amerindian villages across Guyana are required to publish their respective lists of candidates, to ensure ineligible persons are cleansed from the list.
Residents are required to be 18 years and older, and must be of Amerindian descent to be eligible to vote, and they must be residents of the respective villages in which they desire to vote.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry is in full preparation mode for the 2024 Village Leaders’ Elections. Officers from the Ministry will be dispatched to various polling stations to observe the proceedings, and lend assistance if any issue arises.
Amerindian villages elect their Village Councils, which are headed by Toshaos (Village Captains), every two to three years, in keeping with the Amerindian Act 2006.
The Village Council is responsible for administering the affairs of the village, including spearheading projects, listening and addressing villagers’ concerns, and providing national representation for their respective areas. (G1)