Local Gov’t Commission will be ‘given some consideration’ - Granger

Though he could not say when the long-awaited Local Government Commission (LGC) will be established, President David Granger on Wednesday said that the matter will be given some consideration now that he has returned from official duties abroad.

Granger told reporters at State House when asked about the establishment of the commission that he was abroad for about a fortnight resulting in this and other matters being “held up”.

He said that while he could not confirm the date for the establishment of the commission what he could say is that he is getting advice on that and the other outstanding matters. He added that there are several commissions such as the Teaching Service Commission which have expired and said that he hopes to make announcements in this regard shortly.

“So I am attending to these matters now that I am back”, he said.

The APNU+AFC government has been accused of dragging its feet on the appointment of the LGC and creating hurdles, like suggesting that the Leader of the Opposition has to consult with the governing party on his own nominees.

For over a year, the government has refused to name its three nominees for the body.

The Commission is provided for in Guyana’s Constitution under Article 78 (a), which states, “Parliament shall establish a Local Government Commission, the composition and rules of which empower the commission to deal with as it deems fit, all matters related to the regulation and staffing of local government organs and with dispute resolution within and between local government organs.”

Under the law, it will not only oversee municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils but also Regional Democratic Councils as well as Amerindian Village Councils.

The legislation also provides for the composition of the LGC as eight members: three nominated by the president, one nominated by the minister after consultation with the 71 Local Government Authorities, one nominated by unions operating in the local government sector and three nominated by the Leader of the Opposition after consultation with all parliamentary parties.