By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC administration remains steadfast in its plans to hold long overdue Local Government Elections (LGE) before the end of 2015 and is planning for such in early December.
This is according to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan who made the declaration during a presentation on the Local Government Amendment Bill 2015, which was passed in the National Assembly today.
Bulkan, responding to claims by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that the earliest date for elections would be in the first half of 2016, made it clear that “Local Government Elections will be held before Christmas.”
The elections were last held in Guyana in 1994 and in recent years several protests have been mounted and calls made for the previous administration to set a date for the elections.
Minister Bulkan questioned why the Opposition Party would like to see the elections being held until 2016 and proffered that the Party may have a fear of Guyanese being empowered through local democracies.
“They have a fear of people being empowered to manage their own affairs…they desire to keep our people subjugated,” said Bulkan.
He maintained LGE has little to do with the politics of Guyana but it is to ensure the effective functioning of local government bodies.
“The elections have little to do with politics and everything to do with giving people their constitutional rights to take care of their communities,” said Minister Bulkan.
Meanwhile, Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan in his presentation spoke of the implementation of constabularies in local government bodies.
According to Ramjattan, the local constabulary offices would effectively ease the strain on the Guyana Police Force and address concerns that can be dealt with locally.
“What this amendment also does it that is also ensures that the police do play a role in the training of the members of the neighbourhood constabulary,” said Ramjattan.
It was noted too that members of such constabularies may also wield weapons in the discharge of their functions.
“It is one thing to give the impression that we are going to diffuse power to the local government authorities…this is making it quite clear that they have the power to handle their affairs,” said Ramjattan.
When you campaign to run a country you must know what you getting into. Don’t make false promises. People would grade you very fast. Do not be like the ones who just came out. Four years creep up very fast.
If you expected an overnight miracle then you must be living in la la land or your support for the coalition was weak at best. I have a suggestion to make, next election go ahead and vote for the dysfunctional PPP.
I WANT TO KNOW IF YALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRESIDENT IF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACING YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT RECTIFIED WITHIN A BLINK OF AN EYE COME ON PPL ROME WASN’T BUILT IN DAY GOSH STOP CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT FOR EVERY LITTLE THING U WASN’T COMPLAINING WHEN PPP\C WAS IN POWER IS BECAUSE IS A BLACK MAN IS OUR PRESIDENT GROW UP MAN GOSH
I am also beginning to get worried about this government I voted for. Seems like they are lost. Economy is stagnant and people are frustrated. Lots of people leaving the country. They need to start doing something to give people confidence in them.
This LGE will give the Coalition a rude awakening.
ppl are really disgusted with all this excesses that they are seeing. Two many ministers, no consensus with the AFC and dominance by the PNCR.
The reins of government has surely driven them into “dont know what to do” syndrome.
Look the vine has it that 20000 laptops received are now been deliberated by Trotman and who will be getting them.
I am begining to worry abt the coalition that i voted for…they are out of control and doesnt seem to have an iota of what they are doing.
Time for us to have a fixed date for both General/Regional Elections and Local Government Elections. Parties and politicians ready or not, scheduled elections must be held on schedule.
To make this possible, Parliament must pass legislation that says, LGE will be held every three years on the first Tuesday in April, while GRE will be held every five years on the first Monday in October.