The release noted that article 12 of our Constitution is clear “Local government elections by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organization of the State”.
Further, Article 71 details that “local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organized so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live”.
The Laws of Guyana, Chapter 28:02 – Local Government prescribes the following:
“Except as is otherwise provided for in this Act, the term of office of councillors shall be three years commencing on the first day of January after the declaration under section 101 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act of the election results for the village.”
The APNU+AFC Coalition’s statement said they are alarmed, but not surprised by the recent statements emanating from the PPP regime which clearly indicate that they do not intend to hold Local Government Elections which are constitutionally due in 2021.
The PPP, through its Attorney General, who is not the competent authority to make declarations on such matters, has signalled to the nation that the PPP will not place the holding of LGE as a priority on its 2021 agenda.
According to the coalition, this takes us back to the dark days of the PPP denying the people of Guyana Local Government Elections for two decades and impairing Guyana’s democracy.
Hence we call on the PPP regime to hold the Local Government Elections in 2021 and to make the necessary preparations and budgetary allocations for the holding of same.
It was the APNU+AFC Coalition under President David Granger which proudly restored Local Government Elections in Guyana. Two Local Government Elections were held during our term, with the first being held after our government was in office for less than a year.
Local Government is a foundational pillar of democracy and the people of Guyana must not tolerate reverting to the dark days of the PPP’s denial of Local Government Elections and the wanton and arbitrary installation of the infamous Interim Management Committees in Town Councils and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.
The PPP installed IMC’s throughout this country in an effort to control Town Councils and NDCs and subvert the will of the people. It is clear, from the signals of the PPP that they are setting up to return to installing IMC’s, while denying citizens the right to elect their local leaders in a fair and credible manner.
The APNU-AFC statement said Citizens MUST be given their democratic and constitutional right to elect their local leaders without delay or hindrance. Citizens must be able to freely elect leaders who they hold responsible for the management and development of their communities and must not have the PPP imposed handpicked persons in their communities via the reviled and hated IMC policy of the PPP regime.
Finally, we alert the nation that there is a sinister ulterior motive that the PPP has for not hosting Local Government Elections and eventually installing IMC’s and that is to allow them to hive off lands to their cronies and friends at peppercorn rates. It is little wonder that the infamous Anil is leading the PPP charge to derail Local Government Elections. He is known to be the engineer for the land hiving off process of the PPP.
We call on the PPP to stop playing games with Local Government Elections which have been restored to the democratic fabric of our country. Once again, we call for the timely holding of Local Government Elections and for all necessary budgetary allocations to be made to the Guyana Elections Commission to allow for the same.