Guyana Observer News

Local Govt. Elections tainted if Bill is assented to - AFC

Sunday, 02 August 2009

The Local Government Elections whenever they are held will be tainted if the Bill that was passed recently in Parliament is assented to. Raphael Trotman of the Alliance for Change said that the Bill was passed without the correct procedures. Trotman said that he is endorsing and commending the statements of the People’s Progressive Party member, Bernard De Santos, who told the House that the correct procedures were not being adhered and that the Bill should not have been proceeded with. It would be better for the Bill to be withdrawn and re-tabled so that there could be consensus on the legislation, The AFC leader said.
Shadow Finance Minister, Winston Murray, who had pointed out that the Standing Orders were not being adhered to prior to the passage of the Bill was not in House at the time of the passage, given that he and his party had walked out the National Assembly.
According to Murray, the Report of the Special Select Committee on the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2009 was being presented according to Supplementary Order Paper (No. 2) of July 30, 2009.
He subsequently outlined that on the report was the words “Presented to the National Assembly by Kellawan Lall the Chairman of the Committee on July 30, 2009.”
But according to Murray, the Standing Orders of the House clearly states that “The Report of a Committee may be taken into consideration by the Assembly on a motion. Such a motion may be moved by any Member after one day’s notice.”
Murray stated that the fact that the PNCR was not in the House at the time should in no way have affected the Speaker’s duty to uphold the Standing Order, especially as it was brought to his attention earlier.
The Bill was however passed by the PPP/C that has a majority in the National Assembly.
Recently, Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin, responding to a question at a press conference held during his visit to Guyana, said that he believes that local government elections in Guyana should be held early and that the legislation heading for Parliament, is a very open and transparent way of having local government elections held within the stipulated reforms.

Add comment

JComments

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Our Staff

M.Benschop
Publisher
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A. Reteymyer - Editor in Chief

Sharda Dasrat - Editor

Our Contact Address

USA OFFICE
4710 Church Avenue,
Brooklyn New York.
Tel: 718-462-2020

GUYANA OFFICE
313 East Street
Georgetown
GUYANA
Tele: 011-592-227-8057
011-592-227-8113
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mission Statement

The Mark Benschop Foundation was officially launched in March 2008 by its founder and chairman Mark Benschop and other concerned Guyanese and well wishers in the United States of America. What started as a small operation geared toward helping those in need has grown so large that they were forced to move their offices to a whole building in East Street where the vast amount of people responding to their generosity could be accommodated.

Foundation Membership Form

Application form for any person applying for membership in The Mark Benschop Foundation.

Please download and print out the membership application form and send completed form to our office nearest to you.

Download Membership form.doc

Don't be left out! Join the Movement of Change for a better Guyana

Do your part to rid Guyana of the racial and backward politics that is slowly taking over the country. Join us in giving hope to the people of Guyana regardless of their ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Visitors Counter

You are visitor # 5929548 . Thank you!

Online Radio

Latest News

Contribute to our Website

Anyone wishing to contribute articles or letters to The Guyana Observer News, can email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Are you looking for the best prices in town, Realiable service and door to door pick up and delivery? Then contact Williams Caribbean Shipping today. Mention that you saw this ad on our website and receive a 10% discount!