Local government in Guyana is set to become more independent through an initiative launched by the Ministry of Communities in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).  

The Local Government Reform Project sets out to improve and reorganise the sector by building the capacity of the Communities Ministry, the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM), and the municipalities that support local democratic structure.

Supporting economic development

As part of the project, the necessary tools and resources needed by the various bodies for reform will be identified and a decentralised approach established for public service delivery. Key objectives include improving community participation in local government and looking for potential partnerships to support economic development.

Financial independence

Local government's dependence on central government for funding has also been identified as an area for change with the project looking to divert the avaialble public resources to allow local government to be financially independent.

Taking a fully inclusive approach, the project will include groups such as women, children, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, the marginalised, and those disadvantaged by poverty or other circumstances. In particular, the project will look at addressing the issues affecting young people in Guyana and try to involve them more in democratic processes.

The Ministry seeks to transform the local government landscape through capacity building on all levels, improving accountability and transparency, to facilitate the transfer of greater autonomy and decentralisation. Read more in the Guyana Times