Tuesday
June 17, 2003
Mr. Clinton Collymore M.P
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government.
PRESS RELEASE
The Ministry of Local Government has taken
note of comments made by the opposition PNCR in relation to
the holding of local government elections in Guyana. Blame
for the delay in holding these elections should be placed
at the door of the PNCR, for since 1998, the PPP-Civic government
was prepared to hold local government elections.
The PPP-Civic government takes this opportunity
to clear the air and set matters in their correct perspective.
Here are the chronological, historical and political facts:
-
Local government elections
planned for 1997 had to be postponed due the imminence
of general elections that same year. That is the law.
Those polls were postponed by Act of Parliament for 1998.
-
In 1998 the PNCR created
turmoil due to its defeat at the general elections of
1997 which saw Mrs Janet Jagan becoming the first female
President of Guyana. No poll was possible under those
conditions of riots, looting, arson, bombings, murders,
etc.
-
Local government elections
were again rescheduled by Act of Parliament for 1999,
but VI that year opposition agitation continued on an
increased scale. This time it was compounded by a general
strike called by the GPSU which lasted several months.
So elections were again rescheduled for 2000.
-
The Herdmanston Accord
signed by President Janet Jagan and Opposition Leader
Mr Desmond Hoyte, stipulated early general elections in
January 2001. This meant that preparations for those polls
had again to take precedence over local government elections
as is stipulated by Law.
-
General elections in
2001 were held in March 2001, resulting in the election
of Mr Bharrat Jagdeo as President. The PNCR lost again
and generated worst mayhem' which lasted well into 2003.
This period saw an attempt to overthrow the PPP-Civic
government by force. Following an armed assault on the
Office of the President, treason charges have been laid
against two persons. One accused is still at large.
-
During this period
Dialogue was established between President Bharrat Jagdeo
and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte, resulting from which
several bi-partisan committees were set up to achieve
specific objectives. Among them is the Task 'Force on
local government reform. The work of this Task Force was
interrupted when Mt Hoyte put the Dialogue on "Pause".
One year has been lost therefrom.
In the Joint Communique signed by President
Bharrat Jagdeo and new Opposition Leader Mr Corbin in
May 2003, the bi-partisan committees were re-started.
The Task Force on local government reforms has been given
three months to complete its work, so as to enable the
necessary legislation to be presented in the National
Assembly by October 2003. Amendments made to the Constitution
in 2000, clearly stipulate that new local government elections
are to be held under the changes mandated by the Constitution.
-
The Task Force is currently
winding up its work and will shortly hand over its proposals
to a legal draftsman. The remaining tasks pertain to a
new electoral system; a new local government service commission;
and a formula to determine the transfer of resources to
local government bodies.
Taking the foregoing into account, it is
wickedness for the PNCR to say or infer that the PPP-Civic
is delaying the holding of local government elections. The
PPP-Civic has never been scared of elections and wanted these
election since 1998. It is the PNCR which is terrified of
democratic elections and which has been playing games for
years.
Clinton Colltmore M.P
M.P. Minister in the Ministry
Of Local Government.
Date: June 17, 2003.
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