Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 05, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
Both the APNU and the AFC have openly stated that they will contest the local government elections once GECOM is ready. It means that both parties, after the elections, will have to abide by the law that empowers the Minister of Local Government to override any decision of any municipality or NDC.
This is because the Bill that takes that power out of Ministerial control has not been assented to by the President. Should the PNC win Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden and yet face ministerial truculence then a disaster is in the making. That disaster has come about for two reasons, one structural, the other situational. The structural factor relates to the law. The Minister has the power to overrule any local authority.
It is the other factor that is pregnant with conflict. The situational factor relates to the 2011 election results. One of the caricatures that have gone on unabated in this country is that in five general contests since 1992, half of the election results have been completely tossed aside rendering the process a farce.
Guyanese in the five general contests have voted for two types of government – central and regional. Since 1992, the PPP with majority Indian votes have taken the central administration. The PNC with predominantly African votes have won Region 4, the most populous and most strategically placed of the ten Regions. Yet since 1992, the Region Four administration has been subordinated to the dictates of the central government.
Last year, the Region Four Chairman told me and Michael Carrington of the AFC in his office that his budget was cut by the Finance Ministry by 72 percent. This year, the said Chairman publicly stated that on submission of the Region Four budget, there was no negotiation. Again it was cut.
Region Four has no power to grant any land concession if the central authority is not in agreement. In countless instances lands which come under Region Four jurisdiction have been sold without the knowledge of the Region Four authorities.
In actuality, then, we only vote once at general elections because the second ballot has never materialized into actual power. Matters became complicated with the results of the 2011 elections. This time the combined opposition won a majority but power is exercised as if it was since 1992 when the PPP won majorities until 2011.
Should we have a PNC victory in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden in 2014 then the situation becomes delicate. We will have to wait and see how the ethnic voting goes. But the statistics show that the majority of voters in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden are predominantly African. If the Minister retains his/her power to intervene then the real situation on the ground would be that the PNC has no power even though it won three municipalities.
The situation is identical to regional elections where PNC victories have been rendered meaningless because of domination by the central administration.
Surely, it would be asking too much of the PNC to win the 2011 regional election in Region Four, the 2014 municipal elections in three towns where their supporters are and be in the majority with the AFC in the National Assembly yet accept that it would be unable to govern unhindered in three municipalities.
Looked at from any angle this is an electoral caricature of the worst kind anywhere in the world. There can hardly be any anticipation of what the new Georgetown City Council will do. It is so predictable that any schoolboy can answer the question automatically.
It will raise rates and taxes that have not seen an increase for more than forty years. Within the past ten years, thousands of expensive structures have gone up that within that number, a few of them would have to pay collectively millions years to the City Council.
What happens if the Minister says no? What happens if the Minister says no to a City Council proposal for an environment tax on city businesses? One thing is definite; if APNU or the AFC wins Georgetown, either will have to perform at an extraordinary level because they are facing a general election in about 20 months’ time.
Georgetown, then, has to be cleaned and shaped to look immaculate so that the electorate could be happy. In other words, for APNU and AFC to do good in general elections, they have to clean Georgetown. They will have to raise money through innovative methods But what happens if central government says we are not approving your measures and your budget?
It simply means the 2014 municipal elections were a waste. An unpleasant future looks set to continue.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 23, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Over the weekend, the prestigious Lusignan Golf Club played host to the highly anticipated AMCHAM Golf Tournament, drawing golf enthusiasts and professionals alike from across...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]