Local Government Bill in August

The Minister of Local Government and Regional Administration, Mr Herve Aimee, told NEWSNOW that the new Local Government Bill is ready and is being fine-tuned by Cabinet.

The Bill would amend the Local Government Acts of 1989 and 2003 and would give municipalities and village councils more authority and more responsibilities.

It would also raise a series of existing villages to the status of towns whereas the existing towns would be elevated to the status of cities. Mr Aimee said the Bill would be sent to the State Law Office for scrutiny after Cabinet approves it.

“If everything goes as planned, the Bill would be presented before the National Assembly by August. We would also have ample time to inform all stakeholders of the local authorities about the major changes so they might be prepared for the new municipal and village council elections,” Mr Aimee said.

A first Local Government (Amendment) Bill was introduced and passed in the National Assembly in Mid-December last year because government wanted to postpone municipal elections, scheduled for 2010, until this year.

“The amendment in the Bill made provision for the postponing of the local government elections to this year,” the minister told NEWSNOW.

This revised legislation provided for the extension of the mandate of municipal, district and village councillors, currently in office, until 2011. According to the previous Local Government Act, the elections of every urban authority were supposed to be held between November 21 and 24, 2010. 

Minister Aimee explained that the introduction of comprehensive new legislation on local authorities this year motivated government’s decision to postpone the municipal elections.

According to the new Bill, a village must have more than 10,000 electors to be raised to the status of a town. Eleven villages have been earmarked.

These towns will be able to elect their municipal councils once they are nominated as towns and the inhabitants will also become liable to property tax, which does not touch rural areas and will only be applicable after three years.

The existing towns – Port Louis, Beau Bassin/Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Curepipe and Vacoas/ Phoenix – will be raised to city status. Under the existing Local Government Bill, Port Louis elects a total of 30 councillors, while the remaining towns each elect 24. 

With the proposed changes, the electoral boundaries will need to be redefined by the Electoral Commission. Rodrigues and Agalega will also be included.

By Nitesh Boodhoo