LGE results can be expected by November 13 – GECOM

The much anticipated results of the Local Government Elections (LGE), which are to be held on Monday, November 12, can be expected by the following day.
This is according to the Public Relations Officer at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Yolanda Warde, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times.
According to Warde, after the polls are closed on Election Day, officials at GECOM will begin the counting process and results may even be available the same night.
“We have some Local Authority Areas which are smaller than some but I am not sure what time they (the officers) will cease operations. That will be the call of the Returning Officer but we do not anticipate a very lengthy process,” she explained.
Questioned about why the process may not be lengthy and whether there may not be a massive turn out to the polls, Warde said she does not want to speculate as she is unable to determine turnout.
Earlier this year, some $2.9 billion was allocated to GECOM for the hosting of LGEs which is only three days away.
Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had noted that the allocation will go towards voter education as it was much needed.
“It is an opportunity that is being offered to citizens to elect a council that will have responsibility for the management of whatever area you live in,” he said.
Candidates for Guyana’s major political parties and other smaller players on September 21 presented their lists of candidates to Returning Officers at offices of GECOM for the Local Authority Areas 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 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC), while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic is contesting in 80 LAAs.
The United Republic Party (URP) and the United Party for National Growth and Development are competing in all LAAs, while the Guyana National Congress (GNC) is expected to submit candidates for LAAs in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) only. The GNC party will meanwhile only contest in all of the 10 municipalities. These 10 include the city of Georgetown and nine towns.
The towns are Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini); Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); New Amsterdam (the country’s oldest), Corriverton and Rose Hall in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). Additionally, candidates will contest in Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Linden (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Some of the 21 voluntary groups contesting include Independent Group for Local Development in the Best/Klien Pouderoyen NDC; People’s Village Movement in Diamond Place/Golden Grove; and the Kwakwani United for Progress (KUFP) contesting in Kwakwani NDC.
Meanwhile, 33 individuals are vying to be representatives in 26 constituencies across the country. These include Phyllis Carter in Constituency Four in the Mora/Parika NDC and Ronald M Griffith in Constituency Seven of Wakenaam Island NDC.
There are 12 persons contesting in various constituencies in Georgetown, which is the largest LAA. This list includes Malcolm De Freitas who had also contested in Constituency One at the last LGE which was held in March 2016. For this November polls, Rajendra Bissessar will contest in the Buxton/Foulis NDC in Constituency Six, while Omeshwar Sirikishun will contest Constituency Four of Bloomfield/Whim.
Only the political parties, voluntary groups and individuals with approved symbols to contest LGE 2018 were 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.