Sound advice
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proffered some sound
advice to the newly elected Local Government heads. Addressing
212 newly elected LG Chairmen elected from the UPFA and its
allies at Temple Trees on Tuesday he enjoined them to uphold the
peoples' trust, maintain integrity and be fair in judgement in
developing the villages.
Even the President must be aware that most of the previous
local bodies were far from satisfactory in their performances,
some corrupt to the core. It is also common knowledge that some
of these Local Government heads were misfits who had no clue as
to their role.
Even among the newly elected crop of Local Government heads
there may well by those who may not measure up to the task.
Hence a timely word of advise by the President to make them
realize their responsibilities and duties towards their voters.
The President apparently is keen to create a strong grass roots
base for his development program. He has even promised more
funds for the new local bodies so that no excuses could be made
for non-performance.
The sound advice and counsel tendered by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to the new Local Government heads that they should
uphold the people's trust is indeed a timely one. We say this
because these elected members to local bodies thus far has done
little or nothing for their areas. The garbage problem is still
acute in most Local Government divisions. Derelict roads, broken
culverts, ill maintained public toilets and other signs of decay
and neglect are visible in most areas.
The heads of Local Government bodies had apparently been
lying idle. It is clear that their responsibility to the people
who elected them is last in the list of their priorities.
Instead they are bent on making money through illegal tenders,
shady activity and setting up questionable avenues of income for
themselves. Elected office is a means to an end for the majority
of these members with the voters who elected them a forgotten
lot.
The palatial homes built by some of the heads of local
bodies, the brand new vehicles in their possession, the lavish
lifestyles tell a tale by itself. In this regard the warning
given by SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena to
Local Government heads that stern action would be taken against
any one among them found guilty of corrupt activities is most
welcome.
The Minister acknowledged that there had indeed been corrupt
activities in the former local bodies when he said that
investigations into heads and members of Local Government
institutions will continue notwithstanding that some of the
culprits were re-elected. How come one would ask that
nominations were given to these miscreants in the first place?
This also begs the question if the Minister is really serious in
issuing his warning. It is such an attitude that has led to the
impunity we see around us today.
The Minister should be true to his word and hound out those
found guilty however loyal they may be to the party. It is only
through making examples of such elements that corrupt activities
in the local bodies could be eliminated. As we mentioned before
most of these members are either siblings or 'catchers' of top
politicians and use local bodies as a stepping-stone to advance
their political career. Getting elected to these local bodies as
we said is a means to an end.
Service to the public is furthest from their minds. As is
evident these members had spent lavishly on their election
campaigns going by the thousands of high quality posters on the
walls of a single candidate. The first task of these members no
doubt would be to recoup the cost of their election campaigns.
There is no guessing how they will get about this task.
The Minister should take serious steps to monitor the
activities of the new Local Government heads. A close tab should
be kept on their conduct and doings. They should not be allowed
to sit on their laurels but work for the people. In some Local
Government bodies work on road repairs and other services
commenced only after the dissolution of the Local Councils which
is testimony to the callous regard paid to public by these
junior politicians.
The Minister should din it into these members that they have
an important role to play at the grass roots level to complement
the Government's development programs. Regular workshops and
seminars should be held to educate Local Government members on
their duties and tasks. We say this because most of these
members are from ordinary backgrounds some with little education
who may not measure up to the challenge. It is hoped that
following the President's advice to them a new ethos will be
built by our newly elected Local Government heads where service
to the public will be the number one priority and not self
interest, indulgence and enriching themselves. |