Local Government: Important Benefits and General Basis [Archives:1999/42/Law & Diplomacy]

Dr. Ahmed Al-Shaikh Abubaker
Local Government is one of the main pillars of democratic system and modern state, achieving a free and effective people’s self- rule. It is a call for applying principles of expanding the base of decision making.
Keeping up with this vary active national trend a committee has been formed to prepare the national project for local government .
The committee emanated from the National workshop an”Rabita” project project for local government . The seminar was held upon a call by Rabitat Abnaa Al- Yemen party (RAY) in may 1998 in Sana’a.
Benefits
The discussions that took place confirm and agree in the corruptions of centrality and the importance of wide by empowered local government as necessity for consolidating democracy.
Thus approach to change to democracy with the peoples participation , is a good omen towards overcoming frustration, and to step up towards the vast field of liberty, which enabled the political and the party multiplicity, and achieving the Yemeni unity as an important accomplishment. Consolidating the constitution of the state of unity with democracy as an accepted potion for political system, could avail the citizens to elect their representatives within the frame of the party and the competition of the political programs. Thus practicing their democratic rights which were secured for them in the constitution.
This fact called all the democratic forces for greater acts of solidarity in order to overcome the obstacles facing it in all the fields as well as strengthen dialogue and exchange opinions, which should process with urban and peaceful methods , instead of the successive violent conflicts, which hampered stability and progress,
Guiding the state and the society in Yemen to administer with low and order, and secure justice and equality,is a vital effort and a noble demand for the Yemeni people in the existing era. This will give an impetus, which will provide a comprehensive integration for the projects of the socio-economic development, and will secure fair allotment of utilizing the national wealth resources.
General Basis :
It is necessary to stress the importance of establishing the local government Authority as the cornerstone of democracy. Such existence o f the local government must have jurisdiction clarity of defining the responsibilities with equality and clear flexible balance between.
1- Jurisdictions
Achieve the constitutional Democratic principle ,based one state.
Communications between them should enable stability, investment achieve development and create productive results.
2- Representation
Take into account the adequate democratic representation for the local units, to secure interaction and positive mutual conciliation between the people.
3- Financial Resources
The local government unit should entertain independent financial resources, which protect them from the obstructions of dealing with the bureaucratic proceedings, the rigidity of the routine, and the failure of the central administration.
4- Elections
Elect the authorities with their different positions of the local government, as well as their exciting departments by a free , fair, equal, comprehensive and direct ballot , and according the appropriate terms for conducting the responsibility,
provided also the members should be from the citizens of the area
5- Control
Any dispute over powers or field of specialization between the central and local authorities is to be controlled and settled by the relevant judicial authority.

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