Georgetown : The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill No.2 of 2012 was passed in the National Assembly to amend the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to provide for the postponement of elections of councillors of local democratic organs to allow for completion of the reform process.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud in his presentation said that local government elections could not have taken place in 2011 because of the constitutional requirement of holding general and regional elections. Consequently, the dissolution of the Parliament in September 2011 to facilitate the holding of the said elections prevented this amendment from being presented to the House in the last quarter of the year in question.
“Notwithstanding this delay, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) remains committed to aggressively pursuing the holding of the local government elections in order to produce a more effective local administration with replenishment of the leadership of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities under the new system,” Minister Persaud said.
Former Labour Minister and PPP/C MP, Manzoor Nadir who also spoke on the Bill said that this process has been stymied for years mainly because of the actions of the Opposition, more specifically, the then People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
Newcomers from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member, Arif Bulkan and Joseph Hamilton from the PPP/C also spoke on the Bill, which was then passed.
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