Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag today brushed aside claims of interference in the internal elections of Mayors and Deputy Mayors, telling reporters that the decision to halt those elections, will in no way affect the Municipalities.

Elections of the Mayors and Deputy Mayors for the 10 Municipalities were expected to be held no later than December 16, 2024 in keeping with the Municipal and District Council Act.

While the Ministry of Local Government issued a reminder in mid-October for preparations to be made for the internal elections, those elections were put to a halt suddenly on December 2, 2024.

Mayor of Linden, Sharma Solomon has said Minister Parag’s decision to halt the internal elections is a “blatant overreach of her powers,” adding that those internal elections are democratic processes that are protected by the Constitution.

But at a press conference today at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Minister Parag said the Ministry of Local Government has oversight over the 80 Local Government Organs including the 10 Municipalities, and would therefore take action as it sees fit.

Offering no clear indication when the elections will be held, the Local Government Minister said in the absence of the internal elections, the status quo remains the same, in keeping with the Local Government Laws.

“At the moment, I can’t say it will or it will not,” she told reporters.

Weighing in on the issue, Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said the decision of the Local Government Minister is not only undemocratic but also unlawful. He said the decision to halt the elections is a clear breach of the country’s Local Government Laws.

“The PPP/C government, and Sonia Parag in particular, should be deeply ashamed. Section 12 of The Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, is unequivocal: it mandates that the Town Clerk conduct these elections without undue interference. The Ministry’s intrusion into this process is not only unauthorized but also illegal. Any attempt to rationalize such interference undermines the rule of law and should be outright rejected by local authorities,” he told News Source.

He said municipalities and local government bodies are enshrined with autonomy under the Constitution—an autonomy that must be respected and protected.

In addition to the alleged interference in the internal elections, Minister Parag has been accused of making bias interventions, particularly in the case of Linden, with the Council accusing her of interfering with its decisions and operations.

Such actions, it says, not only jeopardizes the independence of the Town Council but also sets a dangerous precedent for the governance of local government organs.
But Minister Parag made it clear that the Ministry of Local Government will step when necessary, in the interest of the people.

“And, where that oversight concerns anything that is relevant to the people of that town, we will step in. and where it concerns, especially, the workplan of the council that does not serve the people of that town, we will step in. We will step in,” Minister Parag said.

The Municipality of Linden has also accused the Town Clerk, Lennox Gasper of “inappropriate conduct” and acting outside of his mandate, and in conflict with the decision of the Council.

Minister Parag jumped to his defense, telling reporters that the Mayor must also be held accountable.

“I do not see the Town Clerk’s conduct as inappropriate. I think to be fair you also have to raise the conduct of the Mayor of the Municipality of Linden, and the pressure that has been placed on the Town Clerk to sign documents that are necessarily carrying financial breaches,” Minister Parag said.

She said the Ministry of Local Government will continue to provide oversight, especially in the absence of a Local Government Commission. The Government has not moved to appoint a new Local Government Commission since the life of the last Commission expired.

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