Arid supports regional councils but insists on elected not appointed members |07 November 2017

The Association for Rights Information & Democracy (Arid) has given its support to the decision to have regional councils instead of district councils, but has expressed reservations with regard to the appointment of council members.

“We support the decision to have regional councils instead of district councils and we believe that this will give citizens the opportunity to partake in the development of their districts at regional level. However we are totally against the proposal made, whereby the main political parties will appoint members of the regional councils,” says Arid spokesperson Jules Hoareau.

Mr Hoareau says Arid is of the firm opinion that the regional councils should be non political and non partisan.

“The citizens should be given the right and freedom to elect their representatives to sit on the regional councils. We have many engaged citizens, civic and religious leaders, professionals and even youths who are not interested in politics but are willing to work for the betterment of their districts hence they should be given the opportunities to stand and be elected on the regional councils,” says Mr Hoareau.

“This will give the councils more credibility, legitimacy and integrity rather than having members being appointed by politicians,” he adds.

Mr Hoareau says having elected members on the council is also in line with the values of transparency, democracy and good governance. 

“I’m therefore calling on the President and the leaders of the National Assembly to reconsider their position and to organise local elections for the regional councils,” says Mr Hoareau.

“This is an opportunity to allow citizens to serve their fellow brothers and sisters as councillors and not as politicians and Arid is calling on citizens to join us in advocating for elected councillors and not appointed members to sit on the regional councils,” says Mr Hoareau.