LGE 2023 and the changing dynamics of the vote

Dear Editor,
Fresh out of the 2020 attempts to derail the democratic norms, subvert the will of the people and to illegally hold on to power by key political and administrative players, another election was held. The recently concluded Local Government Elections can be hailed as a successful rollout of the reforms, amendments and the proper applications of the Elections Laws; Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2022, National Registration (Amendment) Act 2022 and the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can be credited to executing its mandate in the prescribed manner, albeit a few hiccups. This was evident by the many reports from electors and candidates from various polling stations countrywide. In the case of my polling station, the elections day staff manned by the Presiding Officer was most helpful when I refused my ballot, based on the fact the number was unclear and smudged. This was immediately rectified by having the numbering stamp cleaned and a new ballot issued.
Many, if not all of the sixty-seven Local Authority Areas (LAAs) provided their Statements of Poll within a few hours and the Statutory Declarations within twenty-four hours of the elections.
We witnessed, unlike the National and Regional Elections of 2020, robust application of the elections rules and laws, where recounts were requested and granted, candidates to the poll were given unfettered access to the voting and counting process, electors were provided with ample and sufficient facilities to exercise their franchise and where tabulations were done to the approval of the candidates and parties.
Now that the elections have concluded and results are available, the analysis of those results are interesting. The two national political parties, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)/ A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) dominated the process, with the PPP/C contesting and fielding candidates in all 80 Local Authority Area (LAA), while the PNCR/APNU contested 67/80. Other voluntary groups and smaller parties were limited in their representation and participation within the Constituencies and LAAs.
The PPP/C fielded candidates from its non-traditional supported LAAs while the PNCR/APNU was unable to secure candidates and backers in thirteen LAAs and several constituencies including the town of Lethem and the LAA of Aranaputa in Region 9. The work undertaken by both party machineries leading up to Nomination Day was therefore evident as well as receptiveness of those electors.
An examination of the candidacy is worth taking note of. Diversity of the PPP/C candidates is arguably the best in the last three LGEs. There were ample representation of Afro-Guyanese and Amerindians and other key representation as part of the slate. Additionally, the youth category with their vibrancy and women representation were commendable.
Within the 10 municipalities, it is worth noting that the PPP/C made massive inroads in seats allocation as follows:
In the municipality of Georgetown, the increase of 78% of the Proportional Representation (PR) votes and 57% in the seat allocation, reflects the changing dynamics of the largest Local Authority Area. This paradigm change can be attributed to the evolving voting patterns of the electors, urbanisation, the intense political work done by the respective candidates and Central Government, improvement in the communities/standard of living and voting based on local issues and solutions against the traditional party loyalty and hard lining. As a result of these factors, we saw the PPP/C making inroads within South Georgetown.
Notably other areas such as Mocha Arcadia, where the number of votes for the governing PPP increased, the rationale remains.
What is worth attention by the major parties as well as GECOM is the relatively low voter turnout, approximately less than 35% of the listed electors. Transfers from one list to another, sensitisation on importance of LGE, and increased mobilisation are immediate matters to be worked on for future elections.
Evidently, the road ahead to woo voters is not as straightforward as traditional voting patterns are changing and electors are looking towards issue-based politics, results driven leadership and the social securities of improved standard of living and quality of life. This requires consistent work and dedication from the actors involved.
Newly elected Mayors, Chairmen and Councillors now have the responsibility, to fulfil on their commitments, obligations and responsibilities in relation to the local governance laws, accountability, prudent management of resources and responsiveness to their constituents.

Sincerely,
Ronald A Harsawack,
MPA