Georgetown, Guyana – (June 9, 2016) The Government of Guyana refutes claims by Executive member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Ms. Gail Teixeira that Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan has not written to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, requesting his constitutionally mandated list of three nominees for the establishment of the Local Government Commission.
In a Press conference held by the PPP today, Ms. Teixeira said, “There is no letter to the Leader of the Opposition and until the Minister does what he is supposed to do under the law and to treat the Leader of the Opposition with some respect under the law, he will be waiting.”
However, the Ministry of the Presidency is in possession of a copy of the letter dated May 11, 2016, addressed to Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Jagdeo, with the subject line “Operationalisation of the Local Government Commission”. In the letter, Minister Bulkan requests that “pursuant to the Local Government Commission Act 2013… I hereby request your submission of three (3) nominees for the appointment by His Excellency, the President, to the Local Government Commission.” The Minister provided in that letter a June 1, 2016 deadline for a response from Mr. Jagdeo.
Written on the copy of that letter, it is noted that the letter was received and signed for by a Ms. Carol Williams of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, on May 12, 2016 but that an acknowledgement of the letter was only received from that Office today, June 9, 2016.
The Ministry continues to await the submission of the names of the nominees from the Leader of the Opposition so that the Local Government Commission can be operationalised. This body is critical to management of matters related to the regulation and staffing of local government organs and with dispute resolution within and between local government organs.
Please find attached the copy of the letter sent to the Leader of the Opposition.
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