By Shabna Ullah
Nomination Day for long-awaited local government elections appeared to go smoothly yesterday with no immediate complaints from those submitting the names of candidates for the May 18th polls to the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom).
Across the country, representatives of political parties, community groups and individuals put forward the names of candidates who will be contesting the nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) with many saying that they were doing it “for the people.”
Local government elections are scheduled to be held on March 18, almost 22 years after the last such polls here and under a new hybrid system which seeks to ensure greater participation from individuals.
In Region Three, representatives from various communities turned up early to hand in their list of candidates and also highlighted their plans.
At the Mora/Parika NDC at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Jaideo Kowsilla was the first to enter to submit a list of candidates. A member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), he was there with a large group of supporters, made up of mostly women.
An independent candidate, Phyllis Carter, was also there representing Parika Outfall. She told Stabroek News that she and her 20 candidates would “work along” for the development of the community. Her theme is: “Progress, Action & Development.”
Some of her plans include removing the market vendors from the roadway in front of the stelling and finding a corner in the stelling for them to sell for a fee. “Parika must be beautified” with flowers along the sea dam and lights would be installed to create an atmosphere of relaxation, she added.
Nizam Hussain, an independent candidate for constituency number six at Parika, said the first thing he would look at is improved “sanitary conditions” of the community. He said he would also install garbage bins and set up a play park for the youth. His plans also include removing sections of the median along the highway that are in front of streets, especially where there are businesses so as to have easy access. His theme is: “A New Vision for Guyana.”
Meantime, at the Good Hope/Hydronie NDC, Parsaram Persaud of the PPP was waiting with his deputy Lindon Fowler, to submit their list. According to Persaud, they plan to “continue with the good work and improve the garbage collection and drainage and generally to improve the people’s lives.”
He said that their interest is in the youth and they would improve the sports facilities to keep them away from negative activities.
Terrence Beaton along with his deputy, Mandy Sukhdeo of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition were also present at the location to present their list. According to Suhkdeo, they would “ensure accountability and that whatever finance is available would be spent in the constituency and must be filtered down to the people.” They also plan to increase educational activities and address issues such as suicide and school dropouts.
At the Greenwich Park/Vergenoegen NDC office, George Orville Straut, his deputy Patricia Amsterdam, and polling agent Anand Sookhoo and team had submitted their list and were leaving. Their group plans to upgrade the small NDC building and the compound. They lamented that the NDC has a tractor and trailer which is not accommodated in the compound because of space.
The group also intends to upgrade the bridge and enhance the surroundings and also pledged to clean up the drains and community and dredge the koker, if successful at the polls.
The PPP group, headed by Adhunauth Bhola, was submitting its list when Stabroek News arrived. His deputy Indranie Bhagwandin was also there along with a large group of supporters. This group plans to improve infrastructure including roads and access bridges and recreational facilities. They would also work with concerned groups or the government to establish information technology centres.
The members would also place great emphasis on the agriculture sector through the improvement of the drainage and access dams.
A group of independent candidates stood in front of the Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC waiting to submit their list. They included Tajh Shazam Khan and Imtiaz Zafarallah who were running for two constituencies at Zeelugt, Halim Khan of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Richard Ramdhanie, Goolzar Namdar of East Meten-Meer-Zorg and Imamudeen Khan.
They said people should not think that this has anything to do with race and encouraged residents “at the time of voting, vote for the individuals and not the parties which have failed us.”
According to them, if they get the support, they can transform the area to the “garden NDC.” They would also beautify and enhance the playground located opposite the NDC. In addition, the group plans to lobby for “better protection.”
At the Best/Klien/Pouderoyen NDC, the APNU+AFC coalition and the PPP had already submitted their list of candidates while another group was expected to come.
Meantime, in Region Four, the process went smoothly on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. In a majority of the areas, APNU+AFC and the PPP/C were contesting in all of the constituencies within the NDCs.
In the Beterverwagting/Triumph NDC, Jamal Bagot said he was contesting as an independent while voluntary group A Nation Building Corp would also be contesting several constituencies within the NDC.
At Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance, the PPP/C contingent was presenting their list when Stabroek News arrived and leader of the contingent Sherry Dass said her list is well-balanced with both gender and youths.
At the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention NDC, the two main political parties had submitted their list of candidates and had done the same at Industry/Plaisance.
On the East Bank Demerara, when Stabroek News visited after lunch, most of the parties had submitted their lists. At the Herstelling/Little Diamond NDC, the two major political parties had submitted their list of representatives while at Eccles/Ramsburg, a group, Ramsburg Councillors for the Community had submitted their list and would be contesting the entire local authority area.
Stabroek News was told that another group, Nation Building Corps was also present to make submissions but had encountered a minor defect and left to resolve the issue with the intention of returning. However, as the 2pm closing time approached, the group was still to return. Stabroek News was also told that the major parities submitted their lists and would be contesting for all nine of the constituencies.
It was observed that Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield also paid visits to the various Local Authority Area’s offices and observed the operations.
Nomination Day for long-awaited local government elections appeared to go smoothly yesterday with no immediate complaints from those submitting the names of candidates for the May 18th polls to the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom).
Across the country, representatives of political parties, community groups and individuals put forward the names of candidates who will be contesting the nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) with many saying that they were doing it “for the people.”
Local government elections are scheduled to be held on March 18, almost 22 years after the last such polls here and under a new hybrid system which seeks to ensure greater participation from individuals.
In Region Three, representatives from various communities turned up early to hand in their list of candidates and also highlighted their plans.
At the Mora/Parika NDC at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Jaideo Kowsilla was the first to enter to submit a list of candidates. A member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), he was there with a large group of supporters, made up of mostly women.
An independent candidate, Phyllis Carter, was also there representing Parika Outfall. She told Stabroek News that she and her 20 candidates would “work along” for the development of the community. Her theme is: “Progress, Action & Development.”
Some of her plans include removing the market vendors from the roadway in front of the stelling and finding a corner in the stelling for them to sell for a fee. “Parika must be beautified” with flowers along the sea dam and lights would be installed to create an atmosphere of relaxation, she added.
Nizam Hussain, an independent candidate for constituency number six at Parika, said the first thing he would look at is improved “sanitary conditions” of the community. He said he would also install garbage bins and set up a play park for the youth. His plans also include removing sections of the median along the highway that are in front of streets, especially where there are businesses so as to have easy access. His theme is: “A New Vision for Guyana.”
Meantime, at the Good Hope/Hydronie NDC, Parsaram Persaud of the PPP was waiting with his deputy Lindon Fowler, to submit their list. According to Persaud, they plan to “continue with the good work and improve the garbage collection and drainage and generally to improve the people’s lives.”
He said that their interest is in the youth and they would improve the sports facilities to keep them away from negative activities.
Terrence Beaton along with his deputy, Mandy Sukhdeo of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition were also present at the location to present their list. According to Suhkdeo, they would “ensure accountability and that whatever finance is available would be spent in the constituency and must be filtered down to the people.” They also plan to increase educational activities and address issues such as suicide and school dropouts.
At the Greenwich Park/Vergenoegen NDC office, George Orville Straut, his deputy Patricia Amsterdam, and polling agent Anand Sookhoo and team had submitted their list and were leaving. Their group plans to upgrade the small NDC building and the compound. They lamented that the NDC has a tractor and trailer which is not accommodated in the compound because of space.
The group also intends to upgrade the bridge and enhance the surroundings and also pledged to clean up the drains and community and dredge the koker, if successful at the polls.
The PPP group, headed by Adhunauth Bhola, was submitting its list when Stabroek News arrived. His deputy Indranie Bhagwandin was also there along with a large group of supporters. This group plans to improve infrastructure including roads and access bridges and recreational facilities. They would also work with concerned groups or the government to establish information technology centres.
The members would also place great emphasis on the agriculture sector through the improvement of the drainage and access dams.
A group of independent candidates stood in front of the Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC waiting to submit their list. They included Tajh Shazam Khan and Imtiaz Zafarallah who were running for two constituencies at Zeelugt, Halim Khan of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Richard Ramdhanie, Goolzar Namdar of East Meten-Meer-Zorg and Imamudeen Khan.
They said people should not think that this has anything to do with race and encouraged residents “at the time of voting, vote for the individuals and not the parties which have failed us.”
According to them, if they get the support, they can transform the area to the “garden NDC.” They would also beautify and enhance the playground located opposite the NDC. In addition, the group plans to lobby for “better protection.”
At the Best/Klien/Pouderoyen NDC, the APNU+AFC coalition and the PPP had already submitted their list of candidates while another group was expected to come.
Meantime, in Region Four, the process went smoothly on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. In a majority of the areas, APNU+AFC and the PPP/C were contesting in all of the constituencies within the NDCs.
In the Beterverwagting/Triumph NDC, Jamal Bagot said he was contesting as an independent while voluntary group A Nation Building Corp would also be contesting several constituencies within the NDC.
At Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance, the PPP/C contingent was presenting their list when Stabroek News arrived and leader of the contingent Sherry Dass said her list is well-balanced with both gender and youths.
At the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention NDC, the two main political parties had submitted their list of candidates and had done the same at Industry/Plaisance.
On the East Bank Demerara, when Stabroek News visited after lunch, most of the parties had submitted their lists. At the Herstelling/Little Diamond NDC, the two major political parties had submitted their list of representatives while at Eccles/Ramsburg, a group, Ramsburg Councillors for the Community had submitted their list and would be contesting the entire local authority area.
Stabroek News was told that another group, Nation Building Corps was also present to make submissions but had encountered a minor defect and left to resolve the issue with the intention of returning. However, as the 2pm closing time approached, the group was still to return. Stabroek News was also told that the major parities submitted their lists and would be contesting for all nine of the constituencies.
It was observed that Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield also paid visits to the various Local Authority Area’s offices and observed the operations.
