As Nomination Day for Local Government Elections (LGE) gets underway on Friday, officials at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are currently perusing the Lists of Candidates for the various political parties that are contesting for the Local Authority Areas (LAAs).
This publication was informed that at the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office at Good Intent, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) political party submitted their list, while representatives of the other leading party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have done the same.
Incumbent Chairman of the Toevlugt Patentia NDC, Saheid Khan who represents the PPP in a brief comment said that he was pleased with this morning’s process at the NDC office in Good Intent.
Meanwhile, over in the Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC, the PPP’s list of candidates to contest the LGE was posted by GECOM after it was examined, with ten candidates vying on behalf of that Party.
Tired of failed promises from the politicial parties, frustrated residents from Grove and Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara have formed the People’s Village Movement (PVM) to contest the upcoming LGE. The new group is learning from the mistakes of larger political parties and is aiming to take a hands-on approach to tackle issues affecting the communities. Already the movement has had a community cleaning-up exercise and will soon get into campaign-mode.
Throughout Guyana, major political parties and other smaller players will between 10:00h and 14:00h today (Friday) will present their lists of candidates to Returning Officers at offices of GECOM for the Local Authority Areas (LAAs) in which they are contesting.
GECOM has disclosed that seven political parties, 21 voluntary groups and 33 individuals are vying for victories in some or all of the LLAs.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are contesting in all municipalities and NDCs, while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is contesting in eighty LAAs.
Only the political parties, voluntary groups and individuals with approved symbols to contest Local Government Elections 2018 will be allowed to submit their lists of candidates, having used the prescribed GECOM forms. These lists will be examined by the Returning Officers to determine whether they were properly submitted in accordance with the relevant laws.
If the list is considered defective, the representative/deputy representative will be notified by the Returning Officer.
If the party, group or individual is not satisfied with the reasons provided by the Returning Officer, they can file an appeal against refusal of approval no later than the 45th day before Elections Day to a Magistrate of the magisterial district.
