NOT daunted by the great fanfare staged by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), the leaders of several small parties strode into historic City Hall to fancy their chances at the May 11 polls.After leaving the horse shoe table inside the City Chambers, the majority of them spoke glowingly about their chances of doing well at the elections, going alone.
But at last minute, the Godism Party, also known as the Small Man’s Liberation Party and the Organisation For the Victory of the People Party, threw their support behind the APNU/AFC Alliance.
Dressed in a gray suit with a flat white cap, Noah Yahshuarun, who looks more like a man from the Middle East, told the Guyana Chronicle that the Godism party has decided not to contest the election and intends to join the Alliance.
According to him, the party has since sent a letter to the Alliance, expressing a desire to join it, and is awaiting a positive response.
He also indicated that Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been notified.
Yahshuarun said his Godism party will be pushing the Alliance and the Government to become more “Godly” and pass laws in Parliament that are reflective of the holy scriptures.
He said there is need for love to end the fighting in Parliament and out of Parliament, ensure national unity, and solve the many social issues in the country.
The Godism leader, whose party symbol is the Holy Tabernacle, also said there is need for greater accountability from holders of public offices.
Leader of the Organisation For the Victory of the People Party Gerald Pereira said his part will only be contesting Region 4, but will be giving its support to the Alliance.
On a ballot paper, a voter casts a regional and national vote.
Pereira explained that his supporters will be putting an ‘X’ next to the Organisation For the Victory of the People Party for a regional vote, and the other ‘X’ for the Alliance for the national vote.
He said his party has been doing some groundwork, and based on feedback, it has made a decision to support the Alliance.
Pereira said if successful in obtaining a seat in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), his party will put “a whole lot of pressure” on Central Government to speed up infrastructural projects.
The pressure, he said, will start in the boardroom and could end up in the streets, in the form of street protests.

LONE DEMONSTRATOR
Before City Hall opened its doors for the candidates of the various political parties to present their documents to GECOM to be checked, and given the go-ahead to contest the May 11 elections, there was some action on Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic by a lone demonstrator.
Bedecked in a colourful outfit, the demonstrator beat his chest and shouted, “The country is we own”, “All of you are my children”, “Go to work and work hard”.
He then tried to remove posters of President Donald Ramotar and Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper on the palls at the Recent Street entrance of City Hall.
He shouted, and even rolled on the road, before moving close to a Police barricade, and jammed knuckles with an officer, much to the amusement of bystanders.
Leader of The United Force (TUF), Marissa Nadir, was the first of the political parties to present documents to GECOM, and she did so without any hiccups.
She said the rejuvenated TUF boasts of members of a wide cross-section of society.
These, she said, includes lawyers, doctors, businessmen, carpenters and housewives, but not househusbands.
According to Nadir, the TUF has been receiving overwhelming support from the hinterland regions, its traditional base, saying that the “party is here, and here to stay”.
“You can expect great things from the TUF, not only in this election but in the elections to come. We are young people; we have the drive; and we know what the electorate wants. We are fighting for job security, good security and efficient government services,” she said.

ROLLING-UP OF SLEEVES
Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HNTP) Leader Alfred Parks had some glitches in his documents, but said he will get it rectified because he intends to ‘roll-up his sleeves’ and begin campaigning at ‘full- throttle’.
Parks was short on his promise to deliver a 300-strong contingent of ‘bald heads’, those with hair and dread-locks Rastas yesterday.
But nevertheless, he described the Nomination Day as a “bright” and “beautiful day”, noting that he is ready to unleash the “truth”.
This is what the Theocracy Party is all about, he said, as he hopes to nibble away at the APNU+AFC support base in Region 4, after the Alliance failed to accept them into their fold.
The HNTP is contesting only in Region 4, where it is hoping a win at least a seat, to better champion its dream to legalise marijuana in Guyana.
United Republican Party (URP) Leader Vishnu Bandhu, whose party’s symbol is a cow’s head, also had some issues with his documents. He promised to get it fixed, as he is ready to go to the May 11 polls.
Bandhu said he will be contesting all the regions, except Region 2, where he said the PPP/C supporters were not too accepting of him.
The URP Leader, who was accompanied by a dozen supporters into City Hall, said his party knows what they are about, who they are, and what they want.

GOOD VALUES
He said the URP is focused on building a stronger and more supportive education system, providing more support for farmers and instilling good moral values in the citizenry.
Dressed in a gray suit, Bandhu said his chances of doing well at the elections are good, because the people have lost interest in the PPP/C, AFC and the APNU.
National Independence Party Leader Sappier Hussain, who has been in the habit of resurfacing close to elections, took a hard swipe at Government’s handling of crime in the country.
He said crime-fighting in Guyana is woefully poor, and should he obtained two seats in Parliament, he will put a helicopter each in Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice to enable faster response to crime and emergency.
But aside from this, Hussain, who is an Attorney-at-Law, said he will institute land reforms, revamp the cattle industry and bring the Amaila Falls Project on stream.
At close to 18:00 hours, the closing time for Nomination Day, leader of the Independent Party Mark Benschop emerged, presenting his requisite papers to GECOM.
He said the Independence Party is about change, and it will focus on delivering change. Benschop said as a servant of the people, he wants a few seats in Parliament, and when he gets them, he will move to ban duty-free concession for parliamentarians.
This move, he said, will save the Government some $400 million, which he said can be spent on more important things that will benefit the people.
The small parties contesting the May 11 elections are being seen by sections of the electorate as termites, rearing and ready to eat away at the support base of the big parties.
By Tajeram Mohabir