Guyana and CDB sign US$218,000 grant to boost local democratic organs

The two-year project was launched immediately after the signing, with a vision of creating empowered cohesive communities, where local democratic organs can deliver satisfactory services.

Guyana and CDB sign US$218,000 grant to boost local democratic organs

In a bid to tackle inequality and exclusion and restore functionality to local democratic organs, the Government of Guyana along with its development partner, the Caribbean Development Bank on Thursday inked a grant agreement to the tune of US$218,000.

The two-year project was launched immediately after the signing, with a vision of creating empowered cohesive communities, where local democratic organs can deliver satisfactory services.

The project will also look at harmonizing existing legislation and the drafting of related regulations.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan reminded that the APNU+AFC government had promised if elected to pursue a model of governance where local democratic organs are empowered to function effectively.

He said this policy commitment was made after it was realized that the system of local government had been damaged over a period of time and that local democratic organs had degraded to become dysfunctional.

He is hopeful that through this project there will be the restoration of functionality and respect for local government.

Although the rebuilding process has several components, Bulkan highlight the renewal of democratic credentials of councils, institutional strengthening and capacity building within local democratic organs and moves to address revenue base and financial sustainability of Councils.

The Agreement was signed between Guyana’s Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and Director at CDB, Dr. Justin Ram.

Ram delivered brief remarks and said the CDB recognizes that good local governance can be beneficial to Guyana’s development.

“Guyana is at a critical stage and on the crust of major transformation, so the emphasis on government reforms is timely and to be commended,” he said.

Dr. Ram said the local government project will be a vanguard to show what is possible in other Caribbean territories.

The success achieved here will be an example of how local government can work. (Kurt Campbell)

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