As the country approaches Local Government Elections (LGE) and rhetoric from the Opposition intensifies, Vice President and People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo is reminding the population to judge his party by its work, not through the lens of race.
Vice President & PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo
The General Secretary pointed out during a recent press conference that since his party has returned to power, the country has undergone massive changes that include more jobs circulating and a non-oil economy that stagnated under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), returning to life.
“Nobody can doubt that since the PPP got back into office, in spite of COVID-19, we have returned life to the economy. Because of our policymaking. And because of the clear signals we have sent to the business community. Because of the confidence we have demonstrated in the future,” Jagdeo said.
“No one can deny that. If you talk to APNU supporters, the most hardcore, they acknowledge this. When PPP is in office, you have resources circulating on the ground, in the communities. More people are employed today, than in the pre-COVID period under APNU because many lost their jobs.”
He also used the example of Linden (Region 10), where the PPP/C is aiming to construct 1000 housing units. Among the success stories are the dozens of elevated two-bedroom units that have been built, 400 house lots that were distributed in one housing drive compared to 360 in APNU/AFC’s five-year term and 18 young professionals who received the first set of homes in May 2022.
Another example he used is the availability of jobs, including the Government’s part-time initiative designed as an initial means of providing income for those in dire need. The initiative has been rolled out across the country, including in Region 10.
Some of the young professional homes in Linden
“With over 1000 people employed there through the part-time scheme alone. They will take home about $80 million, because about 1200 persons, maybe $100 million per month. That is $1.2 billion will be circulating in the economy, per year. Just from that one initiative. So, clearly that is happening, it is having an impact.”
“Our housing programme, if you look at it, young professionals building houses for people, getting them, this is designed not just to help people. We are hoping this will also have them vote for us. That is why we want people to judge on the basis of our work. Not based on race. The others want only on race. That’s it,” Jagdeo further said.
In February, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had set Monday, June 12, 2023, as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long overdue LGE in Guyana.
LGE were initially set for March 13 this year, but GECOM had deferred it in December 2022 to address issues relating to its registration exercise. This postponement occurred after court action was filed by Opposition-aligned persons, challenging the process used to compile the List of Electors, or Voters’ List, for the pending LGE. In fact, APNU has still been non-committal about contesting LGE. At least two of its former coalition partners, Alliance For Change (AFC) and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) have confirmed that they will be boycotting LGE.
Meanwhile, GECOM has already been in preparation mode over the past few months as it gears up for the long overdue elections. Also in February, the Commission announced that it has reopened the process to provide a further opportunity for political parties, groups, or individuals wanting to contest the upcoming LGE to submit their applications for approval of their symbols.
However, it was explained that those political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who have already applied for approval of their symbols, and who would have already received notification that their symbols were approved are not required to reapply.
GECOM has previously indicated that its approved work plan entails, among other things, that the Elections Secretariat would immediately move to roll out a robust civic and voter education programme, appoint Electoral Registrars and Assistant Electoral Registrars, and extract the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV).
Prior to the date for LGE being set, GECOM had decided to adopt a report from the CEO confirming changes to constituency boundaries, moving the Commission closer to holding elections – although not without a fight from the Opposition-nominated Commissioners.
It was decided last year that 14 areas in which boundaries were modified by the former APNU/AFC Government would be reverted in the lead-up to the LGE when they are held, to allow for better representation. (G3)
