Sunday, July 20, 2025
Village Voice News
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Village Voice News
No Result
View All Result
Home Letters

Under the PPP/C government sanitation and drainage projects are not prioritised

Admin by Admin
March 31, 2023
in Letters
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Association of Municipalities wishes to comment on a statement made by Vice-President Jagdeo at a press conference held on the 23rd of March, 2023, at Freedom House.

In this statement the Vice-President chided the municipalities’ ability to address the issues of the citizens. We wish to state that local democracy was re-invigorated in 2016 under the David Granger administration, during which time monumental gains were made.

Ensuring that local democratic organs across the 10 Administrative Regions were given the resources needed to function effectively, was a priority of the Granger administration. Grants were provided to Municipalities based on the request of the Local Authority Area for sanitation projects, clearing and desilting of key drainage structures to reduce flooding.   Landfill sites were managed effectively by the Ministry of Communities. Monies were budgeted for the construction of new landfill sites in many Local Democratic Organs.

Today, under the current administration, the Ministry of Local Government has relegated many of these projects to the bottom of their list of priorities. Monies were allocated in the 2021 and 2022 budgets for the Bell Vue, East Bank Berbice Landfill. To date, not a penny has been spent. Where is this money?

Ironically, Mr. Jagdeo did not mention the municipalities of Anna Regina, Rose Hall, and Corriverton, which are all in worst states than the ones he conveniently mentioned. These municipalities, Anna Regina, Rose Hall, and Corriverton, are often unable to cover expenses, such as wages and salaries, employees’ NIS contributions and Income Tax remittances.

I would like to remind the Vice-President that under the Granger administration, ALL Local Authority Areas had equal access to funding, with consultations as the yardstick to address the many challenges faced by the Local Government system across the length and breadth of Guyana. Local Government official and practitioners were engaged in annual consultations, through the National Local Government Conference. Much was achieved through that conference. Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Town Clerks, Overseers and Chairpersons of NDCs are now beneficiaries of stipends, as a result of those conferences. Unfortunately, since 2020, not a dollar has been given to the managers of any of the Local Authority Areas.

Prior to 2016, municipalities were given $10 million subvention. In 2016 this was increased by 60% to $16 million. NDCs were given $4 million, a 50% increase, along with major infrastructural developments. These budgetary allocations were given early in the year to all Local Authority Areas to complete its work. Under this administration, it is commonplace for the initial release of finances to occur after the first quarter of the year. Does this practice show any respect for local democracy, or the citizens of Guyana?

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development now dictates how Government’s subvention must be spent. Where is the autonomy of the council as prescribed by the constitution?

A forensic comparison will show that significantly more is being done in PPP controlled Local Democratic Organs than in those under Opposition control. Little development and resources are accessible to Local Democratic Organs to improve the standard of living of citizens. Am I to assume that this is part of the “One Guyana” that is being peddled?

The fluff and bluff about local democracy under the PPP is nothing more than a smokescreen. The Ali-Jagdeo regime never consults on projects in local government organs. Contracts are awarded without the knowledge of Local Authority managers. Details such as the name of the contractor, the cost of the contract, and project requirements are being withheld from relevant stakeholders. Many of these contract sums are reportedly heavily inflated, to accommodate kickbacks.

Government Ministries owe taxes to the tune of millions of dollars, which they pay if and when they like. These are classic examples of hindrances to development, which in turn stymies the development of communities.

Give the Local Democratic Organs what is due to them, using the formula from the Fiscal Transfer Act, and appraise their effectiveness. If local government bodies are given half the monies allocated to GuySuCo, the lives of citizens would be greatly improved.

In closing, allow me to remind Mr. Jagdeo that he has no moral authority to speak on matters of local government, since it was under his tenure as president that Local Government Elections were suspended, contrary to the constitution.

Yours Truly,

Kirk Fraser

READ ALSO

Another year since tragic events of July 18, 2012 in Linden

Renewed Public Appeal for Full Investigation into the Death of Althea “Stacy” Walton and Accountability for Police Handling

Vice-President

Guyana Association of Municipalities

ShareTweetSendShareSend

Related Posts

Letters

Another year since tragic events of July 18, 2012 in Linden

by Admin
July 19, 2025

Dear Editor, As we mark yet another year since the tragic events of July 18, 2012, in Linden, it is...

Read moreDetails
Letters

Renewed Public Appeal for Full Investigation into the Death of Althea “Stacy” Walton and Accountability for Police Handling

by Admin
July 18, 2025

Dear Editor We, the Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG), write this letter on behalf of concerned citizens, grieving family...

Read moreDetails
Letters

Vote on issues and policies and reject race-based voting

by Admin
July 18, 2025

With regional and general election campaigns ongoing across Guyana by the contesting political parties.  The United Workers Party is calling...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Stanley Moore, Attorney-at-Law and Senior Counsel, passes away at 88, leaving behind a legacy of 50 years of service to the bar and bench in Guyana and beyond


EDITOR'S PICK

By Dorwain A. Bess

Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics—Guyana’s Local Content Policy

December 4, 2023
Sprint great Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (second left) is joined by Minister of Sport Olivia Grange (left), JAAA president Garth Gayle (third left), and Wolmer’s High School for Girls principal Colleen Montague during a tribute following her third-place finish in the women’s 100m final at the Jamaica Trials on Friday, marking her final appearance at the national championships. She has already indicated that 2025 will be her final season. (PHOTO: Marlon Reid).

Fraser-Pryce bids Kingston farewell with Tokyo ticket in hand

July 1, 2025
Reggae singer Tanya Stephens (Facebook Photo)

“It’s A Pity” singer, Tanya Stephens, says Jamaicans should seek mental health therapy

June 1, 2023

Let us remember Friday, June 12, 1964

June 12, 2023

© 2024 Village Voice

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Village Voice