COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 THE LOCAL SYSTEM IN GUYANA SUMMARY Guyana is a unitary republic with three spheres of government: national, regional and local. Local government is enshrined in Chapter VII of the constitution. The main governing legislation includes the Municipal and District Councils Act 1988 and the Local Government Act 1998. The Ministry of Communities has responsibility for overseeing local government, which comprises ten regional development councils, six municipalities and 65 neighbourhood democratic councils. There are also 75 Amerindian village councils. In 2016 local elections took place after an almost 20-year gap. The municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils are responsible for raising and collecting taxes and the national government makes annual grants for specified development work. Regional development councils have responsibility for education, health and agriculture support; neighbourhood democratic councils are responsible for waste collection and sanitation, roads/dams and markets; and municipalities are responsible for drainage and irrigation, waste collection and maintenance of infrastructure.

1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT However, in 2003 the Government of Guyana is a unitary republic with a Guyana together with the Government unicameral parliament known as the of Germany developed a pilot land use National Assembly.16.1a The is policy, which outlined criteria for land an president indirectly elected use which is sustainable, socially and as part of the party list system and is environmentally compatible, socially usually the leader of the majority party. desirable and economically sound. The The national assembly has 65 members policy set in motion social processes of elected for a five-year period: 40 elected decision-making and consensus-building KEY FACTS by proportional representation and 25 concerning the use and protection of indirectly elected by regional assemblies. private, communal and public areas, POPULATION (2017 estimate): Following the 2015 national election, and now forms part of the Guyana Vision 777,859 31.9% (22/69) of national assembly 2030 plan (see Section 10.3) adopted members were women.16.1b The cabinet by the government. Objectives and the AREA (UN 2006): 214,969 sq km is appointed by the president and may development goals for the regional CAPITAL: Georgetown include no more than five individuals not land-use plan include: economic efficiency, sustainable use of resources, sitting in the national assembly. CURRENCY: Guyana dollar (GYD) environmental protection, social equity, 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR regional equity and spatial diversification, HEAD OF STATE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT social acceptance/benefits, and guidelines President David Granger on multiple/competing land uses and 2.1 Constitutional provisions poverty reduction. HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Local government is enshrined in the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo constitution.16.2a Chapter VII, Section 71(1) states that local government 3. STRUCTURE OF FORM OF GOVERNMENT: is a vital aspect of and LOCAL GOVERNMENT republic shall be organised so as to involve as 3.1 Local government within the state many people as possible in the task Guyana is divided into ten regions for PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: of managing and developing the administrative purposes (second-tier unicameral communities in which they live. government). Local government forms the third tier and comprises three types of STATE STRUCTURE: unitary council: municipal, neighbourhood and 2.2 Main legislative texts LANGUAGES: Amerindian village.16.3b The constitution Local government is governed by the English (official); Akawaio, Arawak, following legislation: does make provision for further sub- Arekuna, Carib, Guyanese Creole, divisions, but these have not been realised. Hindi, Macushi, Patamona, Portuguese, nn Local Government Act 1998 Spanish, Wai Wai, Wapishiana, Warrau (amended 2015)16.2b 3.2 Ministerial oversight (recognised)) nn Municipal and District Councils Act The Ministry of Communities16.3c (MOC) is 1998 (amended 2015)16.2c NATIONAL ELECTIONS: the government arm with responsibility last: 2015, turnout: na; next: 2020 nn Local Authorities (Elections) Act 1988 for local government. The MOC facilitates, (amended 2015)16.2d coordinates and monitors the execution WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2014): nn Local Democratic Organs Act 1998 of projects and programmes across the 31.9% nn Amerindian Act 2006.16.2e local government sector. The minister is responsible for supervising and LOCAL ELECTIONS: last: 2016, turnout: 47.6%; next: 2019 2.3 Proposed legislative changes administering laws pertaining to local government. In fulfilling these duties there A draft amendment to the Amerindian have been instances in which the minister WOMEN COUNCILLORS: Act has been proposed by the has suspended elected councillors 5.0% (2005) Amerindian community. from office. A degree of authority for LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE the supervision of the neighbourhood as a percentage of total government 2.4 National urban policy democratic councils (NDCs) has been expenditure 2016/17: There is no national urban policy. delegated by the MOC to the regional 2.0% development councils (RDCs).

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Table 16.1a Distribution of councils and population

Regional Neighbourhood Region development democratic Municipalities Amerindian Population Population % rural councils councils village councils (2012 Census) (estimate 2017) (2012)

Barima-Waini 1 2 0 na 27,643 na na

Pomeroon-Supenaam 1 5 1 na 46,810 na na

Essequibo Islands-West Demerara 1 14 0 na 107,785 na na

Demerara-Mahaica 1 15 1 na 311,563 na na

Mahaica-Berbice 1 10 0 na 49,820 na na

East Berbice-Corentyne 1 16 3 na 109,652 na na

CuyunI-Mazuruni 1 1 0 na 18,375 na na

Potaro-Siparuni 1 0 0 na 11,077 na na

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo 1 1 0 na 24,238 na na

Upper Demerara-Berbice 1 1 1 na 39,992 na na

TOTAL 10 65 6 75 746,955 777,859 71.4

Source: Guyana 2012 Population and Housing Census16.3a

Amerindian village councils (AVCs) 3.3.3 Neighbourhood democratic Councillors in the municipalities and are governed by the Amerindian Act councils (NDCs) carry out the NDCs are elected for terms of three 2006 and are therefore managed by responsibilities allocated to them years. The mayors and chairpersons, and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. The under the Local Government Act their deputies, are elected indirectly by MOC, however, provides support to 1998. The NDCs must establish two the councillors on an annual basis. these councils in the execution of their committees, finance and works, and programmes and provision of services. beyond these have full discretion to 4.3 Elected representatives establish committees as they see fit. The No information is available on elected 3.3 Council types chairperson, who is elected annually appoints an advisory committee, but the representatives for RDCs, town or municipal There are three types of local council retains executive powers. councils and NDCs. The 75 Amerindian government operating in Guyana: six councils sit for terms of two years. These are municipalities, 65 NDCs and 75 AVCs. elected by Guyana’s indigenous peoples. 3.3.4 Amerindian village councils (AVCs) Decision-making is by the full council. 3.3.1 Regional development councils The Amerindian Act provides for separate Amerindian village councils of (RDCs) operate as devolved offices of 4.4 Women’s representation the indigenous people of Guyana, with national government delivering services No information was avaliable no the on its behalf. The ten regions have councils responsibilities similar to those of other local government councils. number of women councillors following elected to govern them for five-year terms. the 2016 elections. In 2008, 5% of RDC The function of the regions is to provide all councillors were women; none were services necessary for the wellbeing of the 4. ELECTIONS regional chairs, though two regional citizens within their jurisdiction. The RDCs 4.1 Recent local elections vice-chairs were female. This included are required to establish three committees Local elections were held 2016 with a one female deputy mayor, but no female – finance, works and social development – turnout of 47.6%.16.4a The last elections mayors. All other councils were under and can set up additional committees at for NDC and municipal/ town councils administration. Following the 1994 their discretion. Regional chairs appoint took place in 1994, however there were elections for all councils approximately advisory committees and the RDCs have elections for the regional democratic 22% of councillors were women. an additional oversight role with regard to councils in 2006. the NDCs. 5. SYSTEMS FOR 4.2 Voting system COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 3.3.2 Town or municipal councils are 5.1 Legal requirement responsible for the services allocated to Elections are held using a mixed system Section 71 of the constitution requires them under the Municipal and District of proportional representation and that involvement of all stakeholders, Councils Act 1988. Like RDCs, municipal first-past-the-post. Half the councillors including communities, be obtained. councils are required to establish of each local authority area are elected finance, works and social development through the proportional representation committees and have full discretion to component and the other 50% through 5.2 Implementation establish further committees as they the first-past-the-post or constituency Local authorities are required to hold see fit. Like regional chairs, mayors also component. This is done via universal regular community meetings as part of appoint advisory committees. Between of citizens who have attained the their mandate to be democratic and 1998 and 2016, the MOC’s predecessor, age of 18. Councillors are elected by the inclusive. Issues pertinent to the needs of the Ministry of Local Government and entire electorate of the authority; there communities and their developmental Regional Development, had direct is no ward system. RDC councillors are potential are discussed, and mechanisms oversight of municipalities. elected for a term of office of five years. for service delivery are decided.

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Table 16.1b Women councillors and mayors following the last three local elections

Election 1994 2006 (RDCs) 2016

Councillors # % # % # %

Female councillors na ∼22 na 5 na na

Male councillors na ∼78 na 95 na na

Total councillors na 100.0 na 100.0 na 100.0

Chairpersons

Female mayors/chairs na na na 0 na na

Male mayors/chairs na na na 100 na na

Total mayors/chairs na 100.0 na 100.0 na 100.0

Source: MOC correspondence with CLGF and Visser16.4a

5.3 ICT use in citizen engagement 9. FINANCE, STAFFING AND RESOURCES Overseers and assistant overseers of the E-government used for local government 9.1 Local government expenditure NDCs are also appointed by the MOC. activities, particularly by the MOC and the No information is available on local Within NDCs the staffing structure is RDCs, includes an integrated financial government expenditure as a proportion relatively flat, with the overseer managing management system (IFMAS) and posting of total government expenditure. a structure comprising heads of division of invitations for bids (IFBS) on the national supported by general staff. Among procurement website. IFMAS is only the six municipalities, the mayors and accessed by the respective government 9.2 Locally raised revenue deputy mayors of Georgetown and New agencies (MOC and RDCs), but the The municipalities and NDCs are Amsterdam work full-time, while the procurement website is for public use. responsible for raising and collecting mayors and deputy mayors of the other taxes. Local are not four municipalities are part-time and permitted to set deficit budgets. 6. ORGANISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT remunerated accordingly. Municipalities must appoint a town clerk (head of the The Guyana Association of Local paid service), clerk of markets, engineer, Authorities (GALA) is a voluntary 9.3 Transfers medical health officer, environmental body financed by membership fees There is no revenue-sharing policy, but officer and municipal treasurer. and drawing its membership from national government does provide grants councillors of the NDCs. The Guyana to local government bodies on an annual Association of Municipalities (GAM) basis. These grants are for specified 10. DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE represents municipal councils.16.6 developmental work or activities. DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY 10.1 Overview of local government 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 9.4 Loans service delivery responsibility At the national level, in 2017 the No information is available. 10.1.1 Regional development councils Government of Guyana initiated a (RDCs) administer services such as National Regional Development education, health, agriculture support Consultative Committee (NRDCC). 9.5 Local authority staff and public works. They also coordinate The NRDCC includes representatives RDC staff are recruited by national the activities of local NDCs, providing of all RDCs and serves as an annual government, which retains the power support where necessary, and identify forum where strategic planning and to hire and dismiss. Although the law and undertake revenue-earning projects coordination can take place to improve allows for the deployment of national within the region. governance and accountability. At the government staff to local government, sub-national level, NDCs are overseen by it is uncommon for this to take place. 10.1.2 Municipalities and towns are the RDCs while the municipalities and The RDCs are required to designate a required to provide a range of services RDCs are overseen by the MOC. GALA chief executive officer as head of the such as drainage and irrigation, is actively involved in the promotion of paid service, normally referred to as solid waste collection and disposal, open relations between national and the regional executive officer (REO). maintenance of infrastructure, market local government. This officer is also designated as the accounting officer and is accountable operation and management and child welfare. They are empowered to levy and 8. MONITORING SYSTEMS to the MOC and the Ministry of Finance collect rates. The MOC conducts monitoring exercises for the execution of their programmes to ensure that local authorities operate and utilisation of funding provided. The within their legal and administrative regional chairs and vice-chairs normally 10.1.3 Neighbourhood democratic councils work full-time for their RDC and are parameters and that budgets and NDCs are required to provide services remunerated accordingly. work programmes are effectively such as solid waste collection and implemented. There are also three RDCs are responsible for approving disposal, sanitation, rehabilitation of independent scrutiny bodies relating to the appointment of staff by NDCs. The roads and dams and operation of local government: the Auditor General’s chairperson of the NDC works part-time markets. They also levy and collect rates. Office, the National Housing and and is remunerated at a rate determined Planning Authority and the National by the MOC. The legislation covering Board of Health. NDCs stipulates that they must be headed by an overseer, who collects rates in the absence of any other officer.

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10.1.4 Amerindian village councils REFERENCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES 16.4b Vassell, L. ‘2003 Women, Power The responsibilities of village councils 16.1a Government of Guyana and Decision-making’ in are similar to those of other local www.gina.gov.gy Tang Nain, G. and Bailey, B.E. government councils; however, they have 16.1b Women in national parliaments. (ed) Gender Equality in the no structures for self-financing. Inter-Parliamentary Union Caribbean: Reality Or Illusion www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm 16.5 No reference for this section 10.2 ICT use in service delivery 16.2a Constitution of Guyana http:// 16.6 GAM elections 2017 http://gina. No information is available. parliament.gov.gy/constitution.pdf gov.gy/guyana-association-of- 16.2b Local Government Act municipalities-gam-elections 1998 (amended 2015) 16.7 No reference for this section 10.3 The role of local government http://parliament.gov.gy/ 16.8 No reference for this section in achieving the UN Sustainable chamber-business/bill-status/ Development Goals (SDGs) 16.9 No reference for this section local-authorities-elections- At the 2015 UN summit on the 16.10a President Granger reaffirms amendment-bill-2015-1/ SDGs, President Granger confirmed Guyana’s commitment to the Guyana’s commitment to sustainable 16.2c Municipal and District Councils 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development.16.10a This commitment Act 1988 (amended 2015) Development at 2015 UN was reaffirmed in 2017 by Guyana’s http://parliament.gov.gy/ Summit http://caricom.org/ ambassador to the UN, who also stressed publications/acts-of-parliament/ communications/view/president- the value of public–private partnerships.16.10b municipal-and-district- granger-reaffirms-- One example of a successful partnership councils-and-local-authorities- commitment-to-the-2030- is the current arrangement with the electionsamendment-ac agenda-for-susta Government of Norway whereby Guyana 16.2d Local Authorities (Elections) 16.10b Statement by Ambassador is preserving the forests and woodland (Amendment) Bill 2015 Michael Ten-Pow on the role of which cover over 85% of its land mass, http://parliament.gov.gy/ public–private partnerships in managing them sustainably in return chamber-business/bill-status/ achieving the SDGs, May 2017 for cash payments that can be used for local-authorities-elections- www.un.int/guyana/statements_ other projects aligned with the SDGs. For amendment-bill-2015-2 speeches/statement-delivered- example, there is a need for eco-tourism 16.2e Amerindian Act 2006 ambassador-michael-ten-pow- and travel to/within Guyana to be made https://moipa.gov.gy/legislation- united-nations-conference-role easier by improving air connectivity, roads, the-amerindian-act 16.10c Guyana Vision 2030 urban amenities and tourism infrastructure 16.3a 2012 Population and Housing www.guyana2030.com beyond the more developed coastland.16.10c Census www.statisticsguyana.gov. 16.11a UN statistics surface area gy/census.html http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ 16.3b List of NDCs/municipalities demographic/products/dyb/ www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/ dyb2006/Table03.pdf pubs/List_of_NDCs.pdf 16.11b Commonwealth Local 16.3c Ministry of Communities Government Knowledge Hub http://moc.gov.gy www.clgf.org.uk/resource-centre/ 16.4a Guyana Elections Commission knowledge-hub www.gecom.org.gy/local_ 16.11c UNDP HDR Guyana country government.html profile http://hdr.undp.org/en/ countries/profiles/GUY

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Annex 16a Summary of service provision in different spheres of government in Guyana

Delivering authority

Regional Neighbourhood Amerindian National development democratic village Services government councils councils Municipalities councils Remarks GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Police n Fire protection n Civil protection n Criminal justice n Civil status register n Statistical office n Electoral register n EDUCATION Pre-school (kindergarten and nursery) Primary n Secondary n Vocational and technical Higher education n Adult education SOCIAL WELFARE Family welfare services n Welfare homes n Social security n PUBLIC HEALTH Primary care n Hospitals n Health protection n HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING Housing n Town planning n Regional planning n TRANSPORT Roads n n n n Transport n Urban roads n Urban rail Ports n Airports n ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SANITATION Water and sanitation n n n Refuse collection and disposal n n n Cemeteries and crematoria n n n Slaughterhouses n n n Environmental protection n Consumer protection n CULTURE, LEISURE AND SPORTS Theatres and concerts Museums and libraries Parks and open spaces n n n Sports and leisure facilities Religious facilities UTILITIES Gas services n District heating Water supply n n n n Electricity n ECONOMIC Agriculture, forests and fisheries n Local /promotion n Trade and industry n Tourism n

n sole responsibility service n joint responsibility service n discretionary service

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