In our What The People Say feature on Monday there was virtually unanimous agreement that political parties should not contest local government, including municipal, elections. Even the two persons who qualified their answer supported the principle that more individuals and groups should get involved and that they would do a better job.

The People's National Congress did not in fact contest the l994 local government elections as a party except in the municipalities. They later raised the idea of taking party politics out of local government in the talks on constitutional reform but there was no consensus. However, those talks did produce recommendations that the ward system be reintroduced in the municipalities and that village councils,which are smaller than the existing Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, be re-established if requested by particular villages. If those recommendations are accepted, wards should have to be demarcated and village boundaries delineated.

There is, of course, a joint committee on local government reform in place to consider how these and other recommendations could be implemented. It has been holding consultations in various parts of the country. It will no doubt consider issues like improving the efficiency of local government administration, the extent of their portfolio, rate collection, the awarding of contacts and so on. There is much to be done. But it is to be hoped that the question of taking the established political parties out of local government elections, including those for our six cities, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, Corriverton, Rose hall and Anna Regina will be revisited. The potential benefits are enormous. As Mr Bert Carter, one of those interviewed, put it: "I would like to be a candidate in a local government election but a fear of being branded a politician would make me think twice." People of Mr Carter's experience and ability would be encouraged to come forward and serve.

Look at what the people said: Mr Benn said that people should have more say in the affairs of their communities without the sanctions of political parties. "Politics has spoiled relations at the community level and this has hindered development within communities because of failure to reach agreements". Ms De Costa said politicians should give the people in the communities the chance to manage their affairs without directions from political parties. "They know offhand what the problems are and how they could be resolved." "Things will go fairly well at the community level if the political parties stay out". Mr Annamanthado had this to say: "Politics is what has ruined the smooth running of the Georgetown municipality and caused the once thriving Garden City to become a garbage city. It is also messing up things at the level of the NDCs. Most of the leaders who contested as political candidates for their political party have a loyalty to the party and not to the community or people they are to serve. If community leaders do not have an obligation to a political party I think they will serve the people who elect them better."

Mr Ferreira said: "The chairmen and councillors of the NDC should be men and women of worth from within the community. They should be elected, not on the strength of any political party, but on their own merit. In that way communities would get the best people to serve. Once leaders with good intentions put themselves up as candidates representing a political party, voters tend to see them as opportunists looking after their own self-interest and the political party they represent. This may also lead to voter apathy. It would be best if community groups contest elections. It is time people start seeing leaders from within. It is also time people begin to think of the politicians as the servants of the people and not see themselves as the servants of the politicians."

And so it went.

Having mayors and other local government leaders who were beholden to no party would be a refreshing change. People elected would have to rely on their own initiatives and energy. If they did well there would be nothing to stop them from continuing to serve at the local government level if re-elected or, if they so desired, making the transition to national politics. Their experience as councillors would have been useful and the process could eventually throw up some new candidates of obvious ability who could serve at the national level.

The joint committee would do well to include this issue in their ongoing consultations and gauge the mood of the people countrywide.