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FM
Former Member

The silence is tellingly loud – the voices for LGE have gone totally silent

 

Saturday , October 24 2015, Citizen’s Report, Source

 

I WROTE last week about the total silence of the government about their broken promise of local government elections (LGE) before the end of 2015. Now the Minister responsible, Mr. Bulkan, has quietly and in an uncharacteristically low-profile manner announced that GECOM is not ready for LGE in 2015. They are definitely dodging LGE.   The Minister has clumsily attempted to shift blame to Dr. Surujbally and GECOM. The truth is that the introduction of legislation designating Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica as townships is a strategy to delay the LGE. The legislation to increase townships is Guyana has nothing to do with their commitment to developing new townships and meeting a manifesto promise. The move in Parliament yesterday was an awkward attempt to establish further barriers for holding LGE.


I support the new townships. As part of the PPP Cabinet, we had agreed to establish a number of new townships, including Lethem, Bartica, Mabaruma, Parika, Supernaam, Vreed-en-Hoop, Groove (EBD), Rosignol. Both political parties, therefore, were on the same page with this policy decision. The PPP Government’s position was that government must work to develop these areas and to prepare them for genuine townships. We started the work. But more has to be done.

The haste in the introduction of the township legislation is not to meet any requirement to proceed with establishing the new township; there is no need for haste.

But for APNU+AFC the introduction of the township legislation is necessary at this time because it is clutching at straws. It needs desperately to defer the LGE and it is trying to see if this would provide them with a legitimate reason to further push back LGE. We can reasonably be certain that this is only one of several barriers that APNU+AFC will introduce as they are now in full-battle mode to postpone the LGE.


The silence of several stakeholders on the further delay of LGE is deafening. In particular, I am looking expectedly and disappointingly at the reaction of the representatives of ABC countries. They were not quiet pre-May elections to express their eagerness for LGE and they were loud in their condemnation and disappointment on the failure to hold LGE in Guyana. The representatives of the ABC countries insisted that LGE demonstrate the commitment of any government to strong democratic norms. It was their argument that they were simply echoing their government’s position of the importance of LGE and not taking political sides.

I and as far as I know the PPP also believe that LGE is a necessary part of the strong democratic governance. We believed then that the representatives from the ABC countries were not fair in assigning blame for the delay of LGE in Guyana. But we have crossed that bridge already. There is no need for further delay.

I have to believe that those interested parties, including the ABC countries, that were aggressively promoting the holding of LGE were genuinely interested in strengthening Guyana’s democracy. I am willing to accept that the ABC countries involvement and support for political players who were pushing for LGE had nothing to do with a sense that the PPP was at the time vulnerable.


For the record, I know that as a member of the PPP cabinet, we wanted LGE for several years now. The deferment of LGE, however, was to meet all the demands of the then opposition. For most of the period of the delay, it was because the political parties were negotiating over various issues that became pre-requisites for holding LGE.


None of those issues, whether it is the fault of the PPP or APNU+AFC, now matters. Blame whomever you want, but we have long passed over that road. It is entirely up to APNU+AFC now.

But I know that APNU+AFC believe that the political circumstances in the country are not favourable for them to participate in any LGE at this time.

They promised LGE by end of 2015 and they madly rushed through several pieces of legislation. The post-election euphoria gave them confidence that they had the upper hand with LGE. Now they are afraid to face the people, supporters of both sides, because in just five months, they have proven they are not capable of taking Guyana forward.


Now all those interested parties, like the ABC countries, certain other international bodies, such as Transparency International, and local political seers like Christopher Ram, Ramon Gaskin, Freddi Kissoon, and media houses like Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, must demonstrate the same commitment for immediate local government elections. Their silence is loudly being heard throughout Guyana and in the world.


LGE must be held now and not left dangling on political expediency. Those that were very interested in LGE before need to now come clean – was it a genuine interest in the holding of LGE as necessary for strengthening democratic governance or merely an anti-PPP position? Now that the tables are turn and it is APNU+AFC in control, the commitment for LGE should not diminish and none of us ought to accept silly excuses and passing the buck.


DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY

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Now all those interested parties, like the ABC countries, certain other international bodies, such as Transparency International, and local political seers like Christopher Ram, Ramon Gaskin, Freddi Kissoon, and media houses like Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, must demonstrate the same commitment for immediate local government elections. Their silence is loudly being heard throughout Guyana and in the world.

 

The silence is tellingly loud – the voices for LGE have gone totally silent, Saturday , October 24 2015, Citizen’s Report, Source

Perhaps, they will continue to remain silent on many other issues.

FM

All administrative necessities in place, date for LGE soon to be announced-Minister Bulkan

 

Written by , Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, October 23, 2015, Source

 

The Ministry of Communities is now awaiting word from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) now that all the administrative orders are in place. According to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, LGE can take place within the first-quarter of 2016.

 

Addressing municipal representatives today, at an Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Development workshop, at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre (ACICC), Minister Bulkan disclosed that the Ministry, this morning, sent two orders to GECOM, relating to the holding of the elections.

 

He explained that with these two orders, the way is virtually paved for another piece of administrative necessity, that is, a third order, which will give the actual date for the elections. “In that regard, I am awaiting a definitive response from GECOM, to be told what is the window, the minimum date, the earliest or latest date, by which those elections can be held, given the fact that these administrative requirements are now all in place,” the Minister said.

 

The first order given to GECOM identifies the 71 Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) that will be participating in these elections, and the composition of their councils.  Minister Bulkan explained in this first order, are the three districts (Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem), for which ‘township orders’ for their creation were yesterday laid in the National Assembly. The second order establishes the boundaries of the 71 LDOs.

 

Minister Bulkan said that he is hoping that with the given information, GECOM will soon set the date for these elections, “But given my advantage, I could state clearly that those elections will be held before the end of next year, and it will signal part and parcel of the administration’s commitment to democratic renewal,” he added.

 

It also re-affirms the administration’s commitment to strengthening the LDOs, to effectively fulfill their role in local government and local governance.

 

Minister Bulkan noted that this democratic rekindling is essential to having new councils, with fresh energy, new enthusiasm and with the zeal that arises from the confidence the citizens have in the administration.

 

Local Government Elections were last held in Guyana in 1994, and citizens have been most eager for a return of this aspect of governance.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, Permanent Secretary Emile McGarrell, Principal Municipal Services Officer Nandranie Harrichan and Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux at the workshop for the Development of Plans of Actions for Municipal Development.

FM
Local Government Elections were last held in Guyana in 1994, and citizens have been most eager for a return of this aspect of governance.

 

All administrative necessities in place, date for LGE soon to be announced-Minister Bulkan, Written by , Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, October 23, 2015, Source

1975 was the last Local Government Elections - LGE - prior to 1994 under the Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte governments.

FM
Originally Posted by Demerara_Guy:
Local Government Elections were last held in Guyana in 1994, and citizens have been most eager for a return of this aspect of governance.

 

All administrative necessities in place, date for LGE soon to be announced-Minister Bulkan, Written by , Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, October 23, 2015, Source

1975 was the last Local Government Elections - LGE - prior to 1994 under the Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte governments.

So that justifies why the PPP did not hold LGE after 1994.

Django

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