As the date for the long awaited Local Government Elections (LGE) draws closer, the contesting political parties have intensified their campaigning and quite recently Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, met with residents in Essequibo, Region Two to address their concerns as well as enlighten them of the upcoming elections.
INews understands that the major concerns for those living in the villages of Dartmouth, Anna Regina, Queenstown and Good Hope, were the illegal occupation and possession of lands, lack of transparency in tendering processes, the state of rice farming in the region and police brutality.
The AG committed to looking into these problems which are having a direct adverse impact on the lives of residents, as he pointed out that the aim of the LGE is to empower them to participate and be able to make decisions for themselves and their communities.
“From your level, you can make demands at a higher level to ensure your communities are fitted with proper roads; electricity, garbage disposal systems etc. You will have the ability to decide on businesses for your communities; you can even invite investors,” he told the gathering.
He also gave a detailed explanation of the LGE process describing it as “a microcosm of a National Election.”
According to him, in the fifty percent (50%) constituency, fifty percent (50%) proportional representation system, the constituency candidates are made ‘more accountable’ since residents of each constituency have a specific person who can be identified and made to account for their local problems and issues.
INews also understands that the residents in Essequibo were urged to take this opportunity to “help make a good life for all Guyanese” as the LGE is seen as the machinery which will allow them to do so.
