| In another exhibition of what remains the continuous tug of war between the government and the now majority seated opposition,Jersyes From China, parliamentary Chairman Basil Williams has refuted claims by the Local Government Minister that he (Williams) is stymieing Local Government elections.Chairman of the local government Special Select Committee Basil WilliamsWilliams told Kaieteur News that the authority to hold Local Government Elections does not rest with him. He was adamant that if these elections are not held soon, it will not be the fault of the Select Parliamentary Committee whose job it is to prepare the Local Government reform bills and which are expected to be completed no later than two weeks hence.Williams said that the Fiscal Transfer Bill is the last to be finalized by the Special Select Committee before the four Bills under review are to be presented to Parliament for debate, and to be later passed. Williams told Kaieteur News that it is not his intent to hold up any progress since what is being achieved now could have been done 12 years ago but wasn’t.Williams pointed out that three of the Bills, the Local Government Commission Bill, the Local Government Amendment Bill and the Municipal and District Councils Amendment Bills have already been completed. This Friday he told, Kaieteur News, the committee will meet and issues pertaining to the final Bill will be addressed.Local Government Minister,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, Ganga Persaud, has however placed the blame of preventing Local Government Elections squarely on the shoulders of the Opposition member. He highlighted that some of the issues already dealt with in relation to the Bills have been concluded, but Williams is seeking to introduce the matter before the Parliament where they can use their one seat majority to get their way.He told reporters at a press briefing on Monday, that the prospects of having Local Government elections anytime soon might as well be impossible with the new hurdles that the Opposition is setting in relation to the Bills.Persaud further expressed his concerns with Williams setting the Bill in a manner where some responsibilities of the Minister are being taken away and will be handed to the Local Government Commission.The initial Local Government Legislation allows for the government to select members to be placed on the commission. The Committee has however sought to amend the clause relating to the Commission’s composition; that is, making it three Opposition members, three Government members and one independent body.Williams told Kaieteur News on Monday that the Opposition had objected to the clause which gave the government almost total power in setting the Commission. He added that the Commission will however be the one to hire or fire persons within the Local Government fraternity and this will ease the tensions that are presently occurring in many of the nation’s Regional Democratic Councils.Williams concluded that the proposals set will lead to the Local Government elections and like the President said,Cheap Jerseys From China, “He is waiting on Basil Williams’ committee,” so it is not at the feet of the committee for Local Government elections to be held, he told Kaieteur News.The last Local Government election was held in 1994. Under the Municipal and Districts Act, elections are supposed to be held every three years. The Opposition has accused the Government of willfully delaying Local Government elections so that they can continue their dictation of its operation and maintain steady control of the Local Government organs.Head of the Presidential Secretariat,Cheap NFL Jerseys Online, Dr. Roger Luncheon,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, however mentioned at a cabinet meeting last year that Local Government Elections were more than likely this year. He told media operatives that Local Government Bills were reintroduced in Parliament and based on the support of the major political parties, they will be enacted.Local Government Minister Ganga PersaudHe noted that many recognize how fundamental the problems have been since Local Government Elections were held in 1994. He opined that the efficiencies in managing the Local Government System had worsened and essentially played havoc at the community level.Luncheon added, ”As a consequence,Cheap NFL Jerseys Stitched, apart from the commitment of President Ramotar for having Local Government Elections, a commitment shared by the Opposition, the PPP Administration has made changes, and these have been done to make more effective and more efficient the Local Government system in the period of that hiatus until Local Government elections. |
