Manickchand says more garbage trucks, stronger NDCs key to improving quality of life
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, says strengthening neighbourhood democratic councils and improving basic services such as garbage collection are central to taking government closer to the people and improving everyday quality of life.
Speaking during an interview on the Facebook programme The Guyana Dialogue, Manickchand said local government reform must go beyond infrastructure and focus on building capable leadership, accountability and service delivery at the community level.
She stressed that persons who offer themselves for election to neighbourhood democratic councils must understand the responsibilities of the role and be prepared to serve their communities. “These are elected bodies. People put themselves forward and communities vote for those they believe will serve them. That service has to be enabled through training, capacity building and a clear understanding of the law they operate under,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Manickchand acknowledged longstanding concerns about pay and resources at the local government level but said service to communities should be driven by commitment, not convenience. “I don’t subscribe to the idea that because someone needs a job, they should serve. Local government requires people who care deeply about community service,” she noted, while confirming that discussions on improved remuneration are ongoing.
Also addressing one of the most persistent issues facing communities, the minister said garbage collection remains a major concern and is being actively addressed by the government. Revealing that approximately 15 garbage trucks are expected to be distributed to communities within days, with a further 80 trucks purchased in December to be rolled out over the next six months. The trucks will be assigned to neighbourhood democratic councils to assist with domestic waste collection.
“You cannot tell people to dispose of garbage properly if there is no system to collect it,” Manickchand said, adding that improving waste management is critical to environmental health and public behaviour.
She explained that Guyana’s local government system includes regional democratic councils, neighbourhood democratic councils, municipalities and community development councils, each with specific roles, but admitted that overlapping responsibilities and capacity gaps have created challenges.
Manickchand said she has already met with dozens of local government bodies across the country and found that many officials lack full clarity on their duties, something she believes can be corrected through training and support.
Manickchand added that government efforts to improve quality of life will increasingly focus on community responsibility, environmental awareness and local leadership, alongside continued investment in physical infrastructure.
