APNU+AFC’s shadow Minister of Local Government, Ganesh Mahipaul claims that the Local Government Commission, in its current construct, is a national embarrassment. This position was taken yesterday as he made his contribution to the ongoing budget debates in the National Assembly.
He told the House that the heavily politicized commission is doing “no good.”
In addition to the claim of the commission being a “national embarrassment” Mahipaul said the Local Government Commission Act of 2013 needs to be amended earliest.
“We need a Local Government Commission that will scrutinize the appointment of local government officials to ensure a merit-based and transparent selection process and provide oversight to prevent corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power within local government bodies and investigate allegations of misconduct or malfeasance by local government officials,” Mahipaul posited.
The Member of Parliament said such an important commission should be able to act as a neutral mediator in disputes between local government bodies, officials, and residents.
“We don’t need a commission that is biased and employs political lackeys of the PPP as is the case with the employment of the Linden Town Clerk, Tuschen/Uitvlugt overseer and Typist Clerk among many others,” said Mahipaul.
