Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Ganga Persaud is calling on Georgetown citizens to make their voices heard and demand more from the Mayor and City Council (M& CC), contending that the council seems to be taking them for granted.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Ganga Persaud
The minister explained that the council is collecting taxpayers’ money and are misusing those funds, which is why government has had to continuously inject resources to correct situations that the council holds responsibility for.
“The council seems to have given up on garbage collections but they have not given up on the collection of rates and taxes from the people… the mayor needs to get his council together,” the local government minister affirmed.
He reiterated that citizens need to let their frustrations, particularly as it relates to the garbage situation, be known and not just leave it for the government to handle. He noted that the municipality, which is collecting rates and taxes, has to be held accountable by the people.
With regards to the holding of the long-awaited local government elections, Minister Persaud said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has made known its commitment of ensuring that this is done long before the 2011 general and regional elections were held, a position that has since been reinforced by President Donald Ramotar.
The Ninth Parliament saw the passage of several vital pieces of legislation that were identified to be amended by the reconstituted Local Government Task Force, but the outstanding legislation is waiting the reconvening of the 10th Parliament.
In the interim, the Local Government Ministry is working along with various local government organs and the regional democratic councils (RDCs), particularly focusing on capacity building.
In December 2010, Local Authorities (Election) (Amendment) legislation was passed to allow for the local government elections to be held on or before December 1, 2011. However, the elections were not held last year for a number of reasons; the most important being the holding of the general and regional elections in November.
Minister Persaud expressed the hope that this matter will be addressed early on the parliamentary agenda of the 10th Parliament, as the responsibility of local government election rests squarely in the hands of all members of Parliament and not only on those on the government side. Local government elections have been due since 1997.
