Georgetown : A Partnership for National Unity ( APNU) claims that the announcement by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheonthat President Donald Ramotar has only signed into law three of the four Bills which were unanimously passed by the National Assembly and were awaiting his assent more than three months ago, reinforces the public perception that the Ramotar PPP Administration is determined to frustrate the holding of Local Government Elections under the reformed Local Government system.
The Local Government (Amendment) Bill asserts the autonomy of Local Democratic organs and, as such, addresses the very essence of Local democracy. The PPP intention to impose Regional Executives Officers into the Principal Act ( 28: 02) was rejected in Committee. The Party’s further attempts to alter this act were also defeated by a majority vote in the National Assembly. Therefore, the President’s non-assent confirms the view that the PPP wishes to retain the archaic colonial powers now vested in the Minister of Local Government.
This APNU says is an unacceptable travesty and does violence to the Constitutional stipulation for ensuring the autonomy of the Local democratic organs. Once again the Administration is displaying its contempt for the decisions of the National Assembly.
