GUYANESE will head to the polls on Monday, June 12 to cast their ballots for representatives of the various local government organs. This is indeed a defining moment which will impact significantly on the governance process, both at the level of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the municipalities.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in a statement, had given full assurance that all systems are in place to ensure that the elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
It is now up to the electorate to cast their ballots and, by so doing, ensuring that the best possible candidates are elected to represent their interests. According to GECOM, there will be no contest in 291 of the 610 constituencies.
Accordingly, there is no need for the establishment of polling stations in those constituencies and based on Section 54 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, in the case where there is only one approved List of Candidates for any Local Authority Area, the persons whose names appear on the List shall be deemed to have been elected as councillors. The PPP/C is the only party to have fielded candidates in all of the 610 constituencies.
This coming local government election promises to be both exciting and ground-breaking. For one thing, the evidence of new, fresh, energetic and committed faces is there for all to see; persons who are committed to community development.

This is evident all across the country but more so in the Georgetown municipality which over the years had been plagued with high levels of lethargy and administrative incompetence. Georgetown, once regarded as the Garden City, has been reduced to a garbage thanks to decades of mismanagement by the PNC-controlled City Council.
These coming elections provide an opportunity for the citizens of Georgetown to change that dynamic. Efforts by the PPP/C to establish a working relationship with the City Council has been stymied by the intransigence of the mayor who seemingly is more concerned with satisfying the agenda of his political masters at Congress Place than that of the needs of the citizenry.
It is clear from the high level of turn out at meetings and rallies organised by the ruling PPP/C that there is a rising tide of support for a fresh start after decades of incompetence and mismanagement.

This apparent governance fatigue is felt not only by the broader citizenry but also by a number of erstwhile high profile APNU leaders who have now come to the realisation that the only way forward for the citizens of Georgetown is to have a council that is aligned to the developmental aspirations of the PPP/C.
This wave of popular enthusiasm for development and change is not confined to the City of Georgetown. This is also true for the other townships such as Linden and New Amsterdam which were under the sway of the PNC but which now seem to be drifting away from the APNU/PNC.
The fact that the APNU has been unable to field candidates in several of the Local Government Areas is indicative of this new reality. This stands in sharp contrast to the PPP/C which is the only party that has fielded candidates in all of the 610 constituencies and 80 local government areas.

The PPP/C, from all indications, has momentum on its side. In the final analysis, however, it is the electorate that has the final say. The choice is clear: one of continuing progress within the framework of the overarching development goals of the current PPP/C administration or a further relapse into a governance paralysis in those local government areas and municipalities where the APNU has political control.
The interest shown by the Guyanese electorate in the contested areas and constituencies has been extraordinary, an indication that Guyanese are taking their civic responsibility seriously. This bodes well for our democracy. Local democracy or what is sometimes referred to as ‘grassroots’ democracy is an integral part of the governance processes. All eligible Guyanese are urged to cast their ballots on elections day. This is not only a fundamental right, but a sacred duty.
Voters are therefore encouraged not only to vote but to vote wisely and with the best interests of their communities at heart. This election provides that opportunity to stand up and be counted.