APNU/AFC accused of usurping power of Local Govt Commission

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament and a small group of supporters picketed the Ministry of the Presidency over the delay in the establishment of the Local Government Commission by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, whom they believe is attempting to usurp its power to gain control of all the local authority areas.

During the picketing exercise, PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha expressed concerns over the delay in the establishment of the Local Government Commission, noting that it seemed that Government has ulterior motives for this setback.

“We feel he isn’t appointing the Commission, because Government wants to control these local authority bodies,” Mustapha told media operatives.

The Local Government Commission will have oversight over the various local authority areas in the country.

It would be responsible for appointing officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and local authority areas, as well as the approval of budgets for the NDCs.

Mustapha said the Communities Minister has set many deadlines for the establishment of this critical body, but has never met any.

He found this surprising since members of both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) when in Opposition were pressing for the urgent setting up of the Local Government Commission.

The PPP Executive Member also dismissed claims that the delay was as a result of his Party’s role in submitting the names of its nominees on the Commission.

He explained that the PPP, upon receiving the letter from the Ministry, wasted no time in submitting the names of its nominees.

Former Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba and former Local Government Ministers Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore were nominated as the PPP representatives on the Local Government Commission.

Meanwhile, the other PPP parliamentarians who participated in the protest exercise are Nigel Dharamlall and Dharamkumar Seeraj.