Local democracy aims at de-centralising administrative responsibility from central government to democratic institutions at the regional municipal and neighbourhood levels through elected councilors, chairmen and mayors.
Democratic change, regrettably, was resisted by the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration which refused to enact or approve legislative changes passed by the National Assembly; refused to conduct Local Government Elections; refused to cooperate with elected NDCs and, instead, installed three dozen unelected, hand-picked Interim Management Committees and refused to abandon the centralised, colonial-era, ‘direct’ district administrative modus operandi.
This assessment was provided by former President David Granger speaking during his weekly programme – The Public Interest. He said that the PPPC administration thwarted local democracy, impaired the performance of local democratic organs and impeded the prospects for rural and urban economic development from 1992 to 2015.
According to Mr. Granger, the PPP/C undermined local democracy by disregarding the Constitution which clearly states: “Local Government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organised so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live…” It is also required that, “in the management and development of the region…every council must devise its general development plans and programmes”.
Mr. Granger recalled that officials of the PPP/C-controlled RDCs and NDCs resisted the APNU+AFC administration’s local government policies from 2015 to 2020. They refused to attend the Ministry of Communities’ National Regional Development Consultative Committee conference aimed at bringing RDCs, NDCs and town councils together to plan for regional development and the local government.
The former President lamented the PPPC’s adherence to the notorious ‘winner-takes-all’ objective of capturing ‘strongholds’ and controlling every single town. Given the PPP/C’s deep-rooted disregard for local democracy, he expressed concern that the PPP/C will not become inclusive and allow for the local authorities to function independently, particularly those won by the Opposition.
Granger reminded that the APNU+AFC administration conducted LGEs twice, in 2016 and 2018 and measurably extended local democracy by establishing four new municipalities − at Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma and Mahdia. These hinterland capital towns, he said, are decentralising development, devolving authority from the centre and directing power into citizens’ hands. Plans of Action for Regional Development, Village Improvement Plans, Regional Agricultural and Commercial Expositions and Rural Entrepreneurial Agricultural Projects to promote local agricultural production and agro-processing never received the support of elected PPP/C officials.
