Georgetown: Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles on urged the government to host the local Government elections noting that it is vital and critical in the development of the country.
Dr Giles who was speaking at the launch of the Parliament’s website and live streaming project at the Parliament Buildings recently told the gathering which included the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a majority of the Members of Parliament, that though the country was making strides in other areas such as technology and e-governance, there is still a need for bigger strides to be taken particularly in the direction of local government elections, citing the need for proper systems and structures to be put in place so that the country can be positively developed.
“As Guyana makes important strides in advancing e-governance and making itself increasingly accessible to its citizens, it is also critical that…. the citizens of Guyana have fully functional structures in place at all levels of government, including at the local level. It is equally important that the citizens of Guyana are able to exercise their voices and rights through their votes in selecting their own Government, including at the local level. Local elections at this stage of Guyana’s rapid development can only serve to build on progress already made and are critical for its future development”, Dr Giles said.
Dr Giles statements come on the heels of several other calls being made by various sections of the society for local government elections to be held given the current situation at some of the municipalities. Just last month several organisations in the country including the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, the British High Commission, Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, Embassy of the United States of America, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Guyana Bar Association, Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association and the Guyana Trades Union Congress made calls on the Government and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to work together in the interest of holding the much needed local government elections.
They are of the view that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is equipped and ready to facilitate the elections should it be called; a view GECOM has not denied.
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