By Rabindra Rooplall

NEWLY-ELECTED Mayors and Deputy Mayor were sworn in Wednesday before President David Granger during a simple ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency.In attendance were Cabinet Ministers and relatives of the new officials.

President David Granger congratulated the Mayors and Deputy Mayors, who were elected by their Town Councils as a result of the Local Government Elections, held on March 18, 2016.

“Guyana has moved forward and it’s not a day for the past but a day for the future. It’s a day we celebrate a victory of our democracy over dictatorship. We celebrate the return of the right of the people of every community to elect the persons they want to represent them and direct their affairs of their municipalities and their neighbourhood,” the Head of State declared.

Adding that Guyana was on the move, the President said these town and municipalities will have to be developed by the engines of strong economies.

“We have to work together to develop our country, we are not enemies, we are not fighting each other since you all have sworn to an oath to administer your municipalities without fear or favour, you have nothing to fear from the central government, at the same time you must be fearless in the execution of your duties and you must not show favoritism of family, ethnicity or social groups,” President Granger emphasised.

The President emphasised that the new ‘capital towns’ are all administrative centres of their respective regions. They would be expected to lead economic development in each region by encouraging infrastructure extension, investment, information and communications technology and innovation.

He expects that the new ‘capital towns’ will be better equipped to attract investment, promote business and drive the economic development of the country’s ten regions.

The Head of State noted that the local government elections, which were held were more than mere respect for constitutionality, but a reaffirmation of Guyana’s political democracy and an opportunity for economic change. The “colonial compound mentality” where the citizens were solely dependent on Central Government to meet their needs, largely continued over the years due to the absence of local government elections, he added.
Municipality Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Mayor: Patricia Veronica Chase-Green, Georgetown; Sherod Duncan, New Amsterdam; Kirt Anthony Solomon Wynter, New Amsterdam; Winifred Rebecca Heywood, Corriverton; Ganesh Gangadin, Corriverton; Krishnand Jaichand, Linden; Carwyn Rowell Holland, Linden; Waneka Odetta Arrindell. Rose Hall; Vijay Kumar Ramoo, Rose Hall; Dave Budhu, Anna Regina; Rabindranauth Mohan, Anna Regina; Darshan Persaud, Bartica; Gifford Eldon Marshall, Bartica; Nageshwari Lochanprashad, Lethem; Carlton Peter Beckles, Lethem; Maxine Ann Welch, Mabaruma; Henry Rupert Smith, Mabaruma Astrille Odetta Gamell