LGE 2023: Many more will crossover with PPP’s inclusionary policy – Jagdeo

The final days are being counted down for the highly-anticipated June 12 Local Government Elections, and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Bharrat Jagdeo anticipates that many more persons will cross over.

Jagdeo cited the party’s inclusionary policy as among the reasons for many persons to join the party, as well as no confidence in the People’s National Congress (PNC). While many have openly come out in support of the PPP, the General Secretary disclosed that many others have shown their support.
“I know that a number of prominent APNU activists who have been with that party for a very long time have come and I have met with them right here at Freedom House. There are tens more people than you see who have come out openly, but others have come here. They speak of several things; that they don’t recognise the PNC any longer… With the policy of inclusion, many more will cross,” Jagdeo told media operatives at his recent press briefing.
Meanwhile, he pointed to significant progress to gain support in PNC strongholds, through grassroot engagement with all communities. This, he added, will prove an advantage when the country heads to the General and Regional Elections in 2025.
“I acknowledge that it is difficult in the APNU strongholds but our campaign has been well received by the residents…People are getting hold of our message and the mood in those communities are very receptive to the PPP campaigning in those areas. That is a huge advance from in the past and would serve us well in the national elections too.”
Jagdeo pointed out that APNU will win definitively in one constituency in the Corriverton area, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where the candidate for the PPP/C would have passed away.
Former Georgetown Mayor and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) candidate Patricia Chase-Green was among several to openly join hands with the PPP/C, where she will be contesting in Georgetown under the Proportional Representation (PR) system.
Businessman and former cricketer Steven Jacobs, who was also with the party on Nomination Day is also a candidate. Another sports personality, national footballer Jeremy Garrett, will also be a PR candidate for the PPP/C in Georgetown.
Well-known political activist Don Singh, who is the son of the first ever General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Jai Narine Singh, was also unveiled as a PPP/C candidate for Georgetown on the PR list. Mikhail DaSilva, the son of Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva, was also listed as a PR candidate.
Over in Linden, where the PPP/C won just one of 16 council seats in 2018, the party also unveiled a list of 24 candidates. One notable inclusion on the list is former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford.
Rutherford, who resigned from the party in October 2020, was among the exodus of senior AFC members who left the party citing their disillusionment. According to the former MP, the AFC had lost its independent voice and with it, its principles.
The PPP/C had indicated its intention to contest all 610 constituencies in the 80 LAAs across the country.
It was reported that the Opposition PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is only contesting 260 of the 610 constituencies, while groups and individuals are contesting, outside of those 260 areas, in another 58 constituencies. This means that APNU and other groups or individuals are contesting in a total of 318 constituencies. (G12)