“As long as I am President we will have Local Government Elections when they are constitutionally due” – President Granger
– local democracy promotes democratic decision-making and community involvement
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, July 26, 2018
President David Granger has recommitted government to holding local government elections when it is constitutionally due.
The Head of State earlier today delivered the feature address at the first-ever National Conference of Local Democratic Organs which was opened at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
“In less than a year after getting into office, we held elections. The Minister of Communities has announced that elections will be held again on November 12, 2018. On that date, we are going to have Local Government Elections. As long as I am president we are going to have local government elections when they are constitutionally due. Do not worry about what you have been reading. I’ll find the money to make sure that we have Local Government Elections. Democracy is expensive, but the alternative is worse,” President Granger said.
In addition, the Head of State said Local Government Elections are vital to fostering local democracy. He also noted local democracy promotes democratic decision-making and community involvement.
“The constitution of our country clearly states that local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organised so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live. All politics is local and we have to ensure at the local level we involve as many people as possible of all ethnicities of all political parties and in all communities.”
President Granger noted that this government, consistent with its constitutional mandate, restored local democracy on March 18, 2016 after an absence of about two decades.
According to Chairperson of the Regional Democratic Council Region Four, Genevieve Allen, the conference will facilitate the development of local government leadership. Today’s conference follows the 2015 conference which mandated elected local government officials to create a plan of action for regional development and the National Regional Democratic Consultative Committee’s Conference in January 2017.
Kidackie Amsterdam
Images: Tejpaul Bridgemohan