Thanks Gassa
If this is all what the Local Government Act entails
then surely PDOIS were quite right to boycott the
elections.
When one compare this Act with the one used during the
First Republic, IT ONLY DIFFERS IN STYLE, NOT IN
SUBSTANCE . The Local Government Act is the biggest
setback for Decentralisation in the Gambia. APRC spent
years criticising the PPP but the reality today is
that the newly eancted Local Government Act is just an
example of how much APRC AND PPP have in common when
it comes to issues of Local Government. To sum up. it
seems after 7 years in power, APRC have not found
anything innovative to do on this issue of Local
Government. Perhaps, am I right to believe that this
was one of the main reason why APRC fail to conduct
Local Governments Elections on time. Remember we
should had our First Local Government Elections in
1997 not 2002, why wait for 5 years and then end up
delivering nothing substantial.
I shall be in a better position to expose the flaws in
this Act once I get hold of some other policy
documents presented by the APRC on the Administration
of Local Government in The Gambia.
Until then have a wonderful day.
Sanusi Owens
--- Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
<HR>
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3><STRONG>Some aspects of the Local Government
Act 2002<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The local Government Act 2002, that was
recently passed by The National Assembly and, I
understand, assented to by the President is an Act
that has not been widely circulated for people to
debate. The following article by Mr. Alieu F. Sagnia
of The Gambia Daily is the only article that I have
seen that has attempted to shed some light on it. I
hope the full Act is published in the not too distant
future for all to know about what it actually means.
In the mean time, here is Mr. Sagnia’s
piece.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Mr. Owens, I would appreciate your interim
thoughts as to how much it differs with the previous
Local Government Act that it has
replaced.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT:
0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in;
PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none;
PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.75pt
solid">
<P style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT:
0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in;
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT:
medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium
none; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt
0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times
New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Have a good day,
Gassa.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT:
0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in;
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT:
medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium
none; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt
0in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times
New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>According to the new Local Government Act 2002,
the chairpersons of the BCC and KMC would be called
mayors. The Act makes provision for the creation of
new local government authorities in the seven areas of
the city of Banjul, Kanifing municipality, CRD, LRD,
URD and WD.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The councils may remove a mayor or chairperson
from office by a resolution supported by two thirds of
councillors, for abuse of office, corruption,
misconduct, physical or mental
incapacity.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The National Assembly will determine the
emoluments of the chairpersons and the Secretary of
State for Local Government shall by regulation
determine allowances and any other benefits paid to
council members.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>A person shall not be eligible for election to
council for more than three terms of office or
nominated for more than two consecutive
terms.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>A councillor can hold office for a four-year
term and is eligible for re-election. But a council
member who absents himself from three consecutive
ordinary meetings of the council without the
chairperson or mayor’s permission shall cease to be a
council member.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>A meeting of the council shall be convened at
least once in every month by the chairperson or mayor,
and at such times as the council may prescribe.
Decisions of the council shall be by simple majority
of elected members present and voting. The chairperson
shall have a casting vote in a tie. Nominated members
of the council shall not have the right to vote at
council meetings.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Two thirds of council members shall be a
quorum, and council meetings other than committee
meetings shall be open to the public. Also copies of
the minutes of council meetings shall be open for
inspection members of the
public.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3><STRONG>Chief
Executive<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Regarding the administration, there shall be a
Chief Executive appointed by the Local Government
Service Commission after consultation with the
chairperson. The Chief executive shall manage the
affairs of the council and be answerable to the
council and be subject to its direction and
control.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The Chief Executive shall in the exercise of
his or her functions report to the Chairperson. The
Chief Executive shall be an ex-officio member of
council committees; be responsible for the day-to-day
performance of executive and administrative functions
and to implement council
decisions.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Also to supervise, monitor and co-ordinate
activities of the departments of council and ensure
accountability and transparency in the management and
delivery of council
services.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The departments of the council shall include
Finance, Services, Planning and Development and
Administration.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The Chief Executive shall be the accounting
officer of the council; and the custodian of all
documents and records of the
council.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>Also there will be a clerk of each area council
appointed by the Local Government Service Commission,
who will take minutes, keep records and organize
meetings of the
council.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The council could ask the Local Government
Service Commission to remove the Chief Executive or
clerk for abuse of office, incompetence, misconduct,
physical or mental
incapacity.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3><STRONG>Powers and
functions<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>A council shall within the area of its
jurisdiction exercise all political and executive
powers and functions; provide services as it deems
fit; promote on a sound basis community development
and self-help; have power to perform such functions as
necessary to facilitate, or are conducive or
incidental to the discharge of its functions; protect
the constitution and other laws of The Gambia and
promote democratic governance; and ensure
implementation and compliance with Government
policies.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>The council will have the powers to make laws
not inconsistent with the Constitution and other laws
passed by the National Assembly. Local bills or
byelaws will be signed by the Chairperson or
Mayor.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt"><FONT face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial,
Sans-serif"><FONT
size=3>----------------------------the
end----------------------<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P><BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New, Courier, Monospace"
color=#3333ff size=4>There is a time in the life of
every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small
enough to solve. -Mike- Levitt-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE
download of MSN Explorer at <a
href='http://g.msn.com/1HM100901/155'>http://explorer.msn.com</a>.<br></html>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings,
go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail
to:
[log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
