THE A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) has decided to have a rerun of its Local Government Election (LGE) primaries for Constituency Five in Linden, where Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell had won.

At a news conference held on Wednesday, Campaign Manager Valerie Yearwood, said that the party has taken a decision to have another go at the primaries in that constituency today, at the New Silvercity Secondary School, citing logistical errors at last Saturday’s voting.

Arindell and Mrs Andrea Dover-Roberts were the only two candidates competing. Yearwood said: “A mistake was made in the logistics of ensuring that all of the supporters of the candidates who were entitled to vote in this process by our organising team. We apologise for this occurrence and have committed to having it corrected and to provide this opportunity for all to exercise their franchise in this process.” Polls will be closed at 19:00hrs.

Chronicling what occurred at the polls in Constituency Five was resident of West Watooka Robert Wallace, in a letter to the editor. While commending the initiative of the primaries, he however, did not deem it successful. Wallace said an entire list of supporters for Mayor Arindell’s contender Roberts, went missing since the day before the elections. The list, he claimed, turned up in another constituency and instead of waiting for the list to be returned, Arindell’s supporters were allowed to vote. “It was chaos, there was no smooth running off, it was a smooth slight of a people seeking to elect someone they can confidently support in the elections.” He also called for an investigation of the Constituency Four and Seven primaries. Campaign Manager Yearwood however told the media that only in Constituency Five there were issues and everything went smoothly in the other constituencies.

This repeat will be done one day before nomination day for all parties, individuals and independent groups. Patterson said that the party is not ashamed to say that it made a mistake and the exercise highlights the democratic process of the APNU, in ensuring that residents elect a candidate of their choice. “The APNU Campaign Committee would like to inform all residents that as a responsible and democratic party, our aim at all times is to keep the voter’s perspective in mind, even as we are committed to ensuring that the vision of His Excellency David Arthur Granger to consolidate and strengthen our people from the community level is realised.”

At last weekend’s primaries, over 700 voters came out in the eight constituencies to elect a candidate of their choice at the November 12 LGEs. The winners for the other constituencies are: Lawrence Simon, Stephen Massiah, Leroy James, Wayneright Bethune, Learna Calvan, Fern McKoy and Gary King. Among the new faces are: Simon, Massiah, Calvan and King.

Before the voting commenced over the weekend, candidates were required to debate in front of the electorate their plans for developing their constituencies and how they intend to implement those plans, as well as share their manifestos. Besides, the candidates were required to build their support base by having 30 persons physically sign a document as an expression of support. The candidates also had to submit their background and past community work, which showed how passionate they are about community development.

Yearwood said that the process gave the voter population within the communities the opportunity to select who they want to represent their constituencies at the upcoming LGEs. She noted that proportional representation candidates will be selected by the party and maintained that she was happy with the voter turnout, especially on the Wismar shore.