The Mayor of the Municipality of Georgetown Pandit Ubraj Narine has challenged the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall to a national debate.
In a conversation with Village Voice News on Friday, Mayor Narine said, “I hereby openly iterate and underscore my challenge to Minister Dharamlall to a public debate.
“I believe that the people of Guyana deserve an explanation of the minister’s actions with regard to the laws of Guyana.”
The Georgetown mayor said, “I wish to publicly debate the minister about his interpretation of the laws of Guyana, in particular, the laws that govern local government.” The mayor said that he is of the firm view that Minister Dharamlall is acting contrary to the laws of Guyana, and, he said, “Minister Dharamlall is doing his own thing.”
Mayor Narine specified the precise laws to which he refers.” The mayor listed the following legislation: “The Constitution of the Republic of Guyana; The Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01; The Local Democratic Organs Act, Number 22 of 1990; and, The Local Government Commission Act, Number 18 of 2013.”
The mayor said that he does not want to discuss politics with Minister Dharamlall, instead, Mayor Narine wants to debate how the local government minister interprets the laws, and carries out his official functions in the context of Guyana’s legal framework.
The mayor said that he does not wish to attach preconditions to the debate: “I am ready to debate him at any time,” he said.
Mayor Narine added, though, that in fairness to all Guyanese, he would welcome the debate be held in a setting that could accommodate attorneys at law, teachers, university students, members of the press, and any other Guysnese who wish to be present.
This publication notes that Mayor Narine has repeatedly invited and challenged the minister of local government to a national debate. The last time that the mayor mentioned the subject was during a press conference at City Hall on June 13, one day after local government elections were held.
