Deputy Opposition Leader Kenneth Bryan filed a motion in Parliament on Monday 5 Jan. calling for the establishment of advisory district councils as soon as possible.
Bryan, a People’s Progressive Movement member, noted that the constitutional framework for the councils was created 15 years ago, but they were still not up and running.
The legislation to set up councils, passed in 2011, has never been brought into force.
Model now outmoded
Bryan added it had also been designed for the old multi-member district system, now superseded by the modern system of 19 single-member constituencies.
Bryan said a motion, if backed by parliament, would fulfil a constitutional mandate for local advisory bodies and ensure voters had a voice in the development of their communities.
He also said a parliamentary select committee should be set up to review the 2011 legislation and make recommendations for amendments within three months.
Bryan said that, as an electoral boundaries review was already on the cards, it made sense to align local councils with constituency boundaries.
Hew backs motion
Leader of the Opposition Joey Hew, who seconded Bryan’s motion, underscored the importance of the district councils in a press release issued 5 Jan.,
“True democracy does not begin and end at the ballot box every four years; it requires continuous dialogue between the government and the governed,” Hew said.
“By revitalising the advisory district councils, we are ensuring that every constituency has a formal mechanism to influence policy and voice their concerns.
“It’s time we bridge the gap between our constitution’s promises and the reality of community involvement in the decision-making process.”
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