Gov’t set to create four new towns
GINA, GUYANA, Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Government intends to create four new municipalities and a similar number of Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDCs). The creation of the eight new Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) was announced by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, as he delivered the Budget 2017 to the National Assembly on Monday.
Flash back: Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman stands among the first councillors of the Bartica municipality. Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford and Frederick Mc Wilfred of the Political Division of the Ministry of the Presidency are also in photo
Kuru Kururu and Yarrowkabra, in Region 4, Baracara, in Region 6, and Aranaputa, in Region 9 will all be designated NDCs “to enable the citizens to have direct control over the development of their communities,” the Minister said.
Additionally, he said, capital towns will be identified for Regions 3, 4, and 5, following the identification of Mahdia as the capital town in Region 8. “These capital towns will serve as the official seat of governance and the central hub for the provision of public services,” the Minister said.
The additional LDOs will join the three new towns – Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma that were recently added to the six existing towns and 65 NDCs. The creation of the new LDOs is part of Government’s plan to ensure the rights of citizens to participate in decision-making in their municipalities and neighbourhood councils.
It also part of government’s democratisation of local government for the planned economic take-off of the towns and regions. Towards this goal, Government successfully held Local Government Elections on March 18, 2016, after a hiatus of 22 years. Since these elections, the elected 71 LDOs have commenced the process of constituency engagement and community consultations with the various stakeholders, so as to get a sense of the priorities and inform their annual work programmes.
Further, building on efforts to promote an inclusive democracy, and guided by the principles of strategic planning, government has begun working with the LDOs on plans of actions to guide the implementation of localised priority recommendations and actions.
Minister Jordan reported that, this year, Government successfully completed the updating of six plans of action for municipal development to guide the implementation of localised priority recommendations and actions for Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Linden, Anna Regina, and Corriverton.
By Macalia Santos