Nomination Day, an evolution of Democratic Governance in Guyana – Min. Bulkan  

DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 21, 2018

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, speaking at Nomination Day for the Local Government Elections (LGE) today at the Critchlow Labour College, said this event is a very crucial step in the evolution of democratic governance in Guyana.

Political parties, voluntary groups and individuals submitted their Lists of Candidates to contest the LGE which will be held on November 12.

Minister Bulkan said he was excited about the state of local democracy in Guyana.

“The Local Government Election [LGE] will be held on held on 12th November and it will mark the first time in the Post Independent history of Guyana, that successive Local Government Elections are being held as legally and constitutionally due,” the minister emphasised.

The Communities Minister said the election is historic for various reasons, including the frequency with which it is being held under the Coalition administration and the framework used to guide the process.

He noted, “I have always had a deep conviction that the decentralised model of government that it provides for, is indeed one of the critical measures that will help us will help us achieve social cohesion.”

The minister said following the 1994 hosting of LGE, the councillors were merely there for “cosmetic value” however, under this government, Minister Bulkan said, the aim is to ensure that those persons elected to serve their respective communities are empowered to execute their functions without interference from Central Government.

Nine new Local Authority Areas, one new town (Mahdia), 80 councillors, an additional eight Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are participating in this year’s LGE.

Minister Bulkan said the government is not only deepening the system of local government but broadening it, allowing for more participation.

Local Government Elections (LGE) is held in Guyana using a Mixed Electoral System of Proportional Representation and First-Past-the-Post.

Fifty per cent or half of the number of councillors of each Local Authority Area will be elected through the Proportional Representation component and the other fifty per cent through the First-Past-the-Post or Constituency component.

Stacy Carmichael/Alexis Rodney

Images: Jameel Mohamed