THE current Local Government reform process is moving apace with the Joint Task Force completing 31 successful consultations among communities in the ten administrative Regions.

Consultations were held between November 16 and 28 of last year, and some of the communities visited were Mabaruma, Charity, Santa Mission, Paradise and Fort Wellington. Residents at these meetings made suggestions towards the improvement of the Local Government system.

The results of the consultations are being assessed by the Local Government Reform Committee, which will present recommendations to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by January 31.

“We have consolidated all the major aspects of what the consultations brought about, and we have put them together. We are going through them in order to have action taken, to relate to them in a systematic manner,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted Minister within the Local Government Ministry, Clinton Collymore, as saying.

According to the Minister, the consultants will deal with certain aspects of the results, while the Committee will handle the remaining issues.

The Committee meets on a regular basis, but, because of the holidays, there was a hiatus between meetings. However, it was scheduled to meet yesterday to continue the assessment of the consultations.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will provide consultants, who will assist with the reform of the Electoral System and the garnering of resources. In addition, the NDI is examining a list of persons who will be able to help in the implementation of the Local Government Commission.

The process of reviewing the findings and making recommendations will be completed in April this year. GECOM will then be involved only in certain aspects, but the Task Force will still be operational.

The deadline for submission by GECOM of its findings inclusive of suggested dates for elections and a revised voters list is January 31.

To complement the Task Force, changes to Chapter 7: Articles 72-78 of the Constitution of Guyana, were made.

The changes made allow the Local Democratic Organs more autonomy, whereby they control their finances, have their own tender boards and employ and dismiss personnel.

Under the current system, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have to seek approval from the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) when they need to spend in excess of $100,000 and this process is a lengthy and tedious one, thus delaying the implementation of projects.

In some areas where no village or community councils exist, residents have requested that these councils be established, especially in remote areas like the Amerindian communities where villages are scattered far apart. Residents are of the view that in such situations it would be more economical to operate village councils.

The Government since 1993 has been allocating subventions annually to the existing NDCs and Municipalities, but this has been limited because of national budgetary constraints.

Local Democratic Organs will be given the authority to make decisions pertaining to development within their respective areas, so that the limited financial resources would be wisely spent resulting in higher levels of satisfaction among residents.

The Local Government Reform Committee will inform GECOM as to the communities where village councils are to be established.

According to Collymore, the Committee is working fervently towards accomplishing its goals so that Local Government elections can be held this year. He is also confident that the Committee will meet its deadline of April 2002.

At the Cabinet retreat scheduled for January 9, discussions on all aspects of Local Government will be held.

Arising out of the dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte, a Joint Task Force comprising members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the People’s National Congress/Reform was formed to review the Local Government process.

The terms of reference of the Joint Task Force include the conclusion of the constitutional reform process and give effect to the new constitutional provisions regarding local democracy; monitoring and guidance of the drafting, passing and implementation of legislation to give greater autonomy to Local Government bodies, including the establishment of the Local Government Commission; the formulation and implementation of objective criteria for the purpose of allocation of resources by local democratic organs; recommendation of measures for continuous education on programmes on the new Local Government system; and the recommendation to the Local Government Commission mechanisms to monitor the work and functions of all established Local Government institutions and bodies.

The Task Force is being co-chaired by Minister Collymore and PNC/R representative Vincent Alexander. (GINA)