Electoral expert Dr Benjamin Reilly has provided six options to the task force on local government reform for consideration as the method by which local government polls would be conducted.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) report yesterday stated that the task force was studying the submission prior to deciding which would be most suitable.
Option one deals with independents and groups, as well as parties contesting local government elections, to be treated as political parties for the purposes of the Act. This means that should an individual gain enough votes to be entitled to more than one seat, someone could be named by that person to take up the extra seat or seats.
Option two is an open list of proportional representation. Candidates' names, including those of independents or individuals, will appear on the ballot paper. Voters vote for a party, or for a candidate on the list, or both party and candidate.
Option three involves a single non-transferable vote. All candidates are listed on the ballot paper. Those with the highest vote totals are declared elected. For a 12-seat council, those selected are candidates who have the 12 highest votes. This system makes no distinction between candidates who are independents, or who are from a group, or those representing parties.
Option four pertains to a ward or constituency system. One candidate or several candidates will contest for a single seat in a constituency or ward. A council with 12 seats would have 12 constituencies or wards. There is no proportionality in this system.
Option five is a mixed system. Some councillors would be elected by proportional representation and some by constituency or ward system. Where the proportional principle is concerned, seats are allocated in proportion to votes cast. Where the representational principle is concerned, voters have a specific councillor who can be held accountable.
Option six specifically excludes any political party from contesting the elections. The Constitution stipulates that local government elections are to be contested by groups, individuals or parties so this is not applicable, GINA said.
Another expert, Professor Randall Crane, met the task force twice during the past week.
The task force is currently reviewing the presentations made by both experts and will be including them in the report currently being prepared to be submitted to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte. Afterwards, the report will be tabled in Parliament.
The task force emerged out of the dialogue between the President and Hoyte. The committee comprises members of the ruling PPP/Civic and the opposition PNC/R. It is co-chaired by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Clinton Collymore, and PNC/R representative, Vincent Alexander.
Elections for local democratic organs have been put off since 1994 for several reasons, including post elections violence in 1997 and 2001.
The task force was charged with holding consultations in various regions. GINA reported that the team held 31 consultations with residents in communities throughout Guyana and has been meeting regularly to review its findings.
Residents of several villages requested the reinstitution of village councils, as these were dissolved by the previous government in 1990, GINA stated. Villagers also requested that individuals be allowed to contest the local government elections.
At present, only political parties are allowed to participate.
GINA said the new legislation would allow individuals to contest the elections.
The PPP/C and the PNC/R have agreed that local government elections should be held as early as possible, but the date has not yet been determined.
Collymore was reported as saying that the task force was addressing two key areas of expertise-the garnering of resources whereby the various local government organs have to be advised as to how to widen their revenue base, and getting advice on the electoral system and how it is used.
The task force met the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which was provided with a report on all aspects of the task force's work. Given the possible constitutional amendments, GECOM was asked to do its best to ensure a smooth and transparent local government elections.
GINA stated that the task force has not made any decision to change the boundaries of the neighbourhood democratic councils (NDC) but disclosed that the subvention allocated to them would be altered. The report said greater autonomy would be given to the councils, allowing them to have their own bank accounts and some autonomy to spend on projects within their communities.
Collymore was reported as saying that the legislation would make provision for personnel from the Auditor General's office or the Ministry of Local Government to supervise NDCs' operations.
The regional democratic councils would no longer be in control of their spending, the minister said, according to GINA.
Over the years, some NDCs have returned portions of money allocated to them for various reasons. Since they have to seek authorisation for spending, they face delays and other restrictions, resulting in incomplete projects.
Changes in legislation will remove some of the restrictions and allow for efficient spending, GINA stated.