“From despair to democracy”- Pres. Granger says LGE vehicle of democratic renewal

– Coalition Government giving power to the people to decide how resources and services will be used for the improvement of their lives

– APNU contesting in 76 Local Authority Areas

DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 14, 2018

President David Granger today said his Government’s commitment to local democracy is based on its belief that the system of public administration rests at the local level.

The President, who is also Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), speaking at the party’s launch of its Local Government Elections (LGE) campaign, said true democracy prevails at the local level.

Against this background, the President stated, the Coalition Government is giving power to the people to determine how services and resources that affect their lives will be utilised.

“After Local Government Elections were held in 2016 we saw how it became a vehicle through which the process of democratic renewal began. It moved the country from despair to democracy to which local leaders can now discuss, debate and decide how their communities will be governed,” the President said.

The “obnoxious” Interim Management Committees of the previous regime are now “history”, the Head of State posited.

He then underscored the importance of a harmonious relationship between all three tiers of governance – central government, regional administration and local democratic organs.

President Granger pointed out that, “The Partnership is embedded in all of the local government areas and with the people’s cooperation, it is solving problems that affect their everyday lives, in their communities and neighbourhoods.”

The Coalition, President Granger added, will adhere to an empowerment policy that regularly renews local democracy by ensuring Local Government Elections are held when they are constitutionally due.

The APNU will be contesting in 76 Local Authority Areas at the LGE on November 12.

Stacy Carmichael

Images: Jameel Mohamed