Local government is enshrined in the constitution of Guyana which is sub-divided for administrative purposes into 10 regions. The regions are governed by Regional Development Councils (RDC) and form the first level of a three-tiered government structure. Town or municipal councils make up the second level and Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDC) comprise the third tier. There are six municipalities, 10 RDCs, 65 NDCs and 75 Amerindian (tribes of Guyana natives) village councils that exist parallel to the local government structure. A regional chairman is appointed by the central government and oversees the general management of the region. The municipalities of New Amsterdam and Georgetown have more autonomy than the Neighborhood Councils in local government matters. Local elections are held every three years most recently in 1994. Elections have been postponed several times, most recently in 2010, and are still pending awaiting several government reforms in respect of local government.
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These reforms are in part aimed at restructuring the legal framework of Guyana’s local government system which is currently based on the Local Government Act of 1998. The new reforms are intended to devolve the centrally managed state structure in favor of local authorities. This would provide them with more responsibilities and also an independent monitoring system in the form of a Local Government Commission. The latest development in the local government reform process was a re-evaluation and new demarcation of constituencies within the 10 regions.
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A number of practical development projects have been taking place in Guyana parallel to the planned institutional and legal reforms. Projects focusing on ecological improvement and poverty reduction are implemented through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development with funding from several international donors. The planned legal and structural reforms should facilitate greater local autonomy in the future but have yet to be implemented.
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