An in-depth look at the June 12th Local Government Elections

Dear Editor,
The June 12th Local Government Elections were successfully conducted, and the people of this great country spoke in clarion tones. They told us in very significant terms that they would like the PPP/C Party to govern their affairs. The people of this country have spoken, and we must abide by their wishes.
The PNC is in its usual mourning style, licking its wounds and saying that the people are stupid to have voted the way they did. It contends that the people were duped and bought over by PPP/C propaganda. But try as it may, it cannot turn back the hand of time. There is a sweeping call for change enveloping Guyana, and nothing is going to change that.
So, let us take an in-depth look at the voting patterns, and what they are telling us. In the first place, the PPP/C has increased its vote count in every area of the country; that is, when we (PPP/C) increased, the PNC showed significant losses. The only solace the Opposition can muster is that it was able to retain the city and the township of Linden, but even in those areas, its win was shaky at best. That shakiness is due to the fact that the PPP/C now has a considerable voice in those townships, something hitherto unheard of.
What the PNC can’t deny is that there is this massive move over to the governing party. However, the Opposition is gloating that some known heavyweight crossovers in the city have lost their seats, and for this they are celebrating. Well, that rejoicing should be short-lived, in that it is a well-known fact that crossover candidates do not always do well when they part ways with their buddies, particularly when there is known evidence of baggage involved. There is always that aura of suspicion that goes with it. That aura of suspicion was exploited to the max by the PNC.
But even amidst the euphoria in its camp, there is great uneasiness, because when you look at the scorecard of the candidates the PPP/C had put up in the city (some of them virtual unknowns) these won convincingly, which comes right back to the theory that crossovers are not generally held in high esteem in areas of their strongholds. But all of that will change come the next General and Regional Elections, when the people see the real intent for the crossover; that is, they are there to help the people, and are not mere soup drinkers, as they are commonly called.
As the General Secretary said, our party believes in forgiveness and the redemption of people. Once you have renounced your past and are willing to join hands with the PPP/C, there is work for all to do in a “One Guyana” Policy. Our country is on the verge of a great tomorrow, and as such, there is no backward thinking by supporters of the Government. We are moving forward under the PPP/C Banner towards that goal. Long live the people of Guyana!

Respectfully,
Neil Adams