-lack of funding among reasons

THE New Movement (TNM) and A New United Guyana (ANUG), two small parties from the joinder list, have confirmed that they will not be contesting the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE).

At a joint press conference on Friday, the leaders of TNM, Asha Kissoon and ANUG, Mark France, both cited personal reasons and lack of funding for not contesting the polls.

“TNM is not contesting Local Government Elections. Our resources right now and the timing is not ideal for us because right now we will be focusing on our seat and how we can use it to instigate quality change and policies to help our following as much as we can,” Dr. Kissoon said.

Meanwhile, France disclosed that the members of ANUG have held discussions on LGEs since last November when they held their internal elections.
It was agreed by the executive members then that it would be best to not contest the LGEs.

“It was the decision of the executive following consultation of the members, that at this sitting we are unable to take part in Local Government Elections as a party,” he said.

Politics, he said, is expensive and small parties do not have a steady income.

Nevertheless, the party has encouraged their members to contest as independent candidates.

“We have had a few independent candidates that would have submitted symbols. ANUG and the joinder list by extension, we are willing to support any independent candidate who is taking part in Local Government Elections.”

June 12, 2023, is the date set for the conduct of LGEs.

The date was chosen based on the work plan that was submitted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

Meanwhile Nominations Day has been set for April 17.

In February, GECOM approved the work plan for LGEs, paving the way for the secretariat to proceed with the implementation of the relevant statutory and administrative activities for the elections in the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) countrywide.

Guyanese have been anticipating the hosting of elections for some time now. It is at the LGE that Guyanese are given the opportunity to vote for the councillors for their Local Authority Area (LAA). Guyana has 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and 10 municipalities, inclusive of Georgetown.

LGE was legally due in 2021, and the funds were budgeted to facilitate this; however, several issues facing GECOM at the time prevented the holding of the elections, including the non-appointment of a Chief Election Officer (CEO).

The LGE could not be held in the absence of a CEO, a position which was later filled by Vishnu Persaud in December 2021.

As part of the government’s commitment, some $2.9 billion has been allocated to GECOM for preparatory works to ensure the successful planning and execution of the elections.

The local government system is an essential part of the country’s governance framework. LGE is contested by political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who are desirous of winning seats to sit on the various NDCs and municipalities.