…who withdrew from the race
Selection not election
Duncan who withdrew from the race, cited on his Facebook page that the entire process was a ‘selection’ and not an ‘election’.
According to Ducan “in the last few days the local government process has been tainted with ministerial intervention and it is my belief that Councillors have been coerced to give their support in a particular direction to maintain the status quo; undermining the democratic process…this and the use of municipal resources to campaign for the incumbent does not auger well for our local democracy, and presents an unleveled playing field; a selection of Mayor and not an election.”
Duncan attributed these factors as the mitigating reasons for his withdrawal from the candidacy of Mayor for Georgetown.
Duncan also noted that he will not be contending for the position of Deputy Mayor as this position “requires someone more in tuned with the incumbent Mayor’s thinking and work ethic.”
He said in his post that “serving the Municipality of Georgetown as Deputy Mayor has been a rewarding experience for me and an education. I have enjoyed the support of Councillors across the political divide, the Coalition Government’s confidence,…I look forward to continue representing the residents of Constituency 14 South Ruimveldt / Ruimveldt Industrial Estate as their Councillor.”
‘Honesty’ and ‘Integrity’
The position of the new Deputy Mayor will now be filled by Councillor Lionel Jaikarran, who is also the President of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), after he secured the majority of votes for that position from his fellow Councillors.
