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There are expectations of good governance by the newly elected local councillors. Meanwhile, the government is facing formidable and unexpected economic threats due to tariffs imposed by the US and the likely recessionary conditions.

Economic challenges

Resolving the economic challenges is formidable. The government fulfilling its promises to usher in a rich and prosperous country for all appears to be a distant dream. Nevertheless, the government must remain committed to eradicating corruption and uniting the country.

Election results

The results of last Wednesday’s local government elections were a further vote of confidence for the JVP/NPP government. It was also a clear rejection of the two parties that had governed the country—the UNP and SLPP.

LG elections

As expected, the local government polls had a much lower turnout of about 60 percent, in contrast to the parliamentary election turnout of about 75 percent. The NPP secured a large majority of local bodies, while the performance of the UNP, SJB and SLPP was dismal.

Results

The results of this week’s local government elections will be interpreted in different ways. The low turnout of around 60 percent could be a lesser significance that people placed on this. Those who had to travel long distances from their workplaces to their registered residences might have considered it not worthwhile.

Opposition parties would, of course, interpret it as a dip in the support for the NPP. In fact, the re-peated claim of the opposition was that the government has not fulfilled its promises in the first six months of its rule. However, the results show a rejection of the opposition parties. Other than in a few ‘pocket boroughs’ of the opposition parties, there was a sweeping victory for the NPP. It secured 65 percent of the local authorities and 65 percent of the popular vote. One could interpret the results of this poll as a further endorsement of the governing party.

Economic crisis

Now that the local government elections are over, the government has to focus its attention on the serious economic challenges the country is facing amid inhospitable global conditions for our exports.

Local government

Our focus on the economic challenges facing the country and the tasks of nation building should not be interpreted as suggesting an insignificant role for local government. On the contrary, the importance and important role of local council should not be forgotten or neglected.

Past

Unfortunately, the manner in which local government institutions have conducted themselves and their inefficiency and corruption have made critics suggest that they are a waste of public money. Hopefully those elected this year would fulfil their responsibilities of ensuring the services to make the country beautiful and provide the services they are entrusted with efficiently. The instances of money spent on incomplete buildings, badly constructed roads, and bridges are too well known.

New members

The newly elected persons to local bodies should deliver the services efficiently and sans corruption and ensure that rural communities will have improved infrastructure. An improvement in rural infra-structure could enhance productivity and contribute to economic growth.

Implications of
LG elections

What matters now is that those who were elected should perform their task of improving the conditions of their local areas. They can make a difference to the living conditions of the people in their areas and improve the neglected and dilapidated infrastructure rather than launch political attacks on their opponents and waste public funds while fattening themselves with bribes and commissions.

Economic
challenges

The government must focus on the formidable challenges of facing severe economic threats posed by US tariffs and global recessionary conditions. At the same time, the government has to fulfil its com-mitment to eradicate corruption and build a united nation.

The main criticism of the government by opposition parties at the local government election rallies was that the NPP had failed to fulfil its election promises. Now that the LG polls are over, the government has to focus on implementing policies that would fulfil its promises, as well as face the unexpected current global economic threats.

Nation building

Inasmuch as the international challenges are formidable, the tasks of nation building and eradicating corruption are formidable and cannot be neglected. Resolving the economic challenges and the tasks of nation building must go in tandem.

All party agreement

A noteworthy recent development has been the agreement of all parties to face the challenges posed by US tariffs and the uncertain global economic conditions. This unity could assist in developing strategies to cope with international shocks and unpredictable risks of the tariff wars and recessionary conditions that will strengthen the capacity of the government to find strategies to cope with problems.

Concluding reflection

The country is at a critical juncture when it has to face severe economic consequences of high US tariffs on our exports to the US. Furthermore, the likely global recessionary conditions could affect our exports to other countries and impact our tourism and inward remittances, which are the strengths of our balance of payments.

A silver lining in the otherwise gloomy global conditions is the coming together of our opposition political parties to resolve this severe external shock. It is also important for the government to continue its efforts of nation building, especially the formidable tasks of eradicating corruption and uniting all communities and religions. The just-concluded local government elections would hopefully usher in a new era of good governance at the local council level.