NDCs responsible for community streetlights

─ Ministry of Public Infrastructure solely responsible for the installation of public roadways streetlights

─ NDCs receive financial support from yearly subvention

DPI, Guyana, Friday, January 18, 2019

The Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) shelters a small geographic area within each region and is tasked with responsibility for the management and administration of these areas within its boundaries.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson

In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson said the ministry is responsible exclusively for the installation for public roadway streetlights.

“It is not just the installation of a light or a bulb, it comes with a cost,” Minister Ferguson said.

She emphasized that the type of Local Government system that the present administration has inherited saw communities with no streetlights but reiterated that each NDC is responsible for lighting community spaces, more particularly streets in their respective communities.

While the collection of rates and taxes functions as the main source of income for each NDC. An Annual Subvention is also received from the central government through the Ministry of Communities.

Annual subventions to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have increased from $3M to $5M.

Government had proposed the increase in the 2019 budget which was approved by the National Assembly. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan noted at the time that the increased subventions would serve as tangible support which the councils would use to cater for development in their respective communities.

Ayana George

Images: Akeem Thomas

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