The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has started its elections campaign as it prepares for the highly anticipated local government elections. Coalition leader David Granger said that the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) recently kick- started a series of rallies across the country, three of which have already been held.
APNU Member of Parliament Winston Felix, who is directing the campaign, is the key person who will set dates and times for rallies at various locations.
The coalition launched its election on November 28, and Granger said the response thus far has been satisfactory.
“As far as the parties are concerned, we are going into the election campaign as a partnership…” he added.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the president’s non-assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill.
Dissatisfaction
“We are confident that election will be held and the bill will be assented to,” he said. APNU has been pushing for the past two years to have the local government election held, pointing out that the dysfunctional local government structure is creating little room for the improvement of community life.
APNU has also stated its dissatisfaction with government’s response to the call for local government elections.
Government on the other hand has made some effort to ensure that local government elections are held, especially since there were numerous calls by the diplomatic corps to ensure that this becomes a reality.
Four local government reform bills – the Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2012, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Local Government Commission Bill – were passed by the National Assembly, after the bills were tabled in the house.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said it is fully equipped and ready to stage the long-anticipated local government elections.
GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally had said that the commission is prepared for the elections.
Foreign donors
According to him, GECOM has already demarcated the various boundaries and constituencies – 71 districts. Each of these areas has been targeted for voters’ education.
Further, Dr Surujbally added that with support from foreign donors and funds covered under the commission’s own budget, finance will not be a problem.
GECOM has conducted approximately 7000 transactions ahead of the closing of its fifth cycle of continuous registration on November 23. Additionally, the Local Government Ministry has given the green light for GECOM to commence its public awareness programme.
Next year will be 20 years since local government election was last held in Guyana.
Government has indicated that local government election is expected to be held in either the second or third quarter of 2014.
