Local Govt – getting things done at the community level

─ Min. Bulkan reiterates the importance of supporting Local Gov’t Organs

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, October 20, 2019

Residents of Arukamai in the Barima-Waini Region were on Saturday, urged not to tak…

M&CC Councillors get support training

M&CC Councillors get support training

Oct 17, 2019 Government, Ministry of Communities, News

Alexis Rodney Author

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alexis.rodney@dpi.gov.gy

─ in local governance and accountability

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, October 17, 2019

Councillors of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), on Thursday, participated in a booster training to build their capacity in local governance and accountability.

Convened by the Ministry of Communities, the one-day meeting engaged councillors and administrators of the M&CC, on their roles and responsibilities, even as the city and country reposition themselves for a major transformation.

Roads, street lights, 8-hr water supply for Ituni

― GWI, Ministries of Communities, Agriculture carrying out works in the community

Residents of Ituni, Upper Demerara-Berbice are now receiving up to eight hours of water supply following the installa…

Govt readies for oil sector with Urban Development Master Plan

With Guyana on the cusp of transformation through the oil and gas industry, the government has taken steps to craft an Urban Development Master Plan.

The Plan will be the blueprint to guide the future development of the city for the next 15 to 20 years, as oil production booms.

At the official launch of an Inter-agency Task Force to undertake the crafting of the Master Plan, this morning, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said the government recognises that the emergence of the oil and gas sector will surge the demand for public and private infrastructure, particularly in urban spaces.

Given the background of the emerging sector, Minister Bulkan noted the importance of the task force paying attention to critical areas of urban management, such as Waterfront and Sustainability, Water Resources Management and Solid Waste Management.

“Urban areas worldwide are experiencing severe environmental problems and climate change induced impact. Georgetown is one such example as is evident in the overcrowded roadways, unequal distribution of space, long traveling times on busy roads and increasing climate change vulnerability,” he pointed out.

All of the aforementioned, the Minister noted, negatively affect the attractiveness and productivity of the urban area and the well-being of its inhabitants.

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe addressed the impact of oil and gas and the need for proactive infrastructural planning. He said Georgetown remains a place of heavy vehicular traffic and increasing congestion. It is therefore essential that the Master Plan takes effect.

According to him, the oil and gas sector is dynamic and is driven by global factors. It is also going through multiple phases including exploration, appraisal and development, production and decommissioning.

“At each phase of development, for example, there are a range of economic opportunities for local and regionally based suppliers, as well as the oil and gas companies including, for big finds as we have seen offshore Guyana,” Dr Bynoe said.

The task force brings together key public agencies and ministries including the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Natural Resources, among others.

Source: DPI

Roundtable financial sessions for LDOs

Roundtable financial sessions for LDOs

Apr 29, 2019 Government, Ministry of Communities, News

─ govt aims to institute a standardised system of financial management across municipalities

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 29, 2019

The Ministry of Communities, this morning, commenced a two-day training session on financial management for Local Democratic Organs (LDOs).

The session was opened at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. Mayors, Town Clerks and Councilors from municipalities across the country gathered to participate in the workshop.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arindell said every municipality must take responsibility for the effective use of all financial resources.

“It is on this promise that I am overjoyed to see the ministry continued dedication to ensure the aspect of financial management is dealt with holistically.”

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan reminded officials that the Coalition Government has delivered on its promise of ensuring local democracy. He said public officials tasked with the management with public funds, cannot adopt an attitude of wastage.

“The law, therefore, imposes on public officials what is called a fiduciary duty, which is a legal obligation to act in the best interest in another, in your case, the ratepayers.”

The minister said the government aims to institute a standardised system of financial management across municipalities.

Alexis Rodney.

Images: Ameer Sattaur.