Three months after passage in Nat’l Assembly Local Government Bills yet to receive presidential assent

By Kurt Campbell

 

[www.inewsguyana.com] – It has been three months since the passage of the four Local Government Bills in the National Assembly and President Donald Ramotar is yet to receive them to give his assent, a Senior Parliament Official confirmed today, November 5.

The Four Bills – the Fiscal Transfers Bill, Municipal and Districts Councils Amendment Bill, the Local Government Amendment Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill – were all passed in the national Assembly on August 7.

iNews Understand that the bills are at the Attorney General’s Chambers with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel undergoing a process of vetting and correction. The Official told iNews that the Parliament Office has completed its work on the Bills already.

However, the source could not say definitively how long the Bills have been at the AG’s Chambers and how soon the work will be completed. Efforts made to contact Attorney General, Anil Nandlall on this matter proved futile.

The passage of the Bills is highly anticipated by all political parties as it is seen as paving the way for the holding of Local Government Elections which was last held in 1994.

It is also hoped that through the enactment of the Bills, local authorities will be more viable, more emphasis will be placed on revenue collection and updating fines and charges set out in the constitution.