Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton on Tuesday conceded that the voters’ list used in the 2015 general and regional elections, which saw his party elected to government, was indeed bloated but argued that the present list is far more bloated.
“[The] 2015 list had problems, but it was not as bloated as 2020 and 2025, if it continues like this, will be far more bloated than 2020 [and] 2015 [and] all others lists…let us not forget we [APNU+AFC] believe the list was bloated and though we won 2015 we had begun to clean the list in 2019. So, the question to me is an unfair question in the sense that we had shown from the inception that we will clean the list. We need a clean voters’ list because we believe only a credible list will produce credible results,” he said.
Norton made the comment while being grilled by reporters on whether the APNU+AFC will be contesting the March 13, 2023, Local Government Elections (LGE).
Following a failed attempt to rig the March 2020 general elections, the APNU+AFC has been contending that the voters’ list is bloated with the names of dead and migrated persons and that the only way to move forward is the creation of a fresh list. That would mean embarking on a national house-to-house registration exercise.
On October 28, the Guy-ana Elections Commission named December 12 as the date for nomination day for the local government polls. It also said that all political parties, voluntary groups or individual candidates that are desirous of contesting the elections are required to submit their list of candidates and pre-approved symbols on nomination day.
The notice was publish-ed in the Official Gazette.
When asked whether a decision has been made, on his part, to contest the elections Norton said that their focus continues to be on advocating for a clean voters’ list and urged reporters to wait and see whether the party will contest.
“As it relates to the time[lines], a party could submit a symbol and then decide it isn’t going [to contest]. So the submission of a symbol is not an indication that you are running, it’s an indication that you are leaving the option open,” he said.
When asked about whether he is doing APNU+AFC supporters a disservice by not definitively indicating whether they are contesting or not, Norton said that the membership of the APNU+AFC is well-informed. He also said that they are not mandated to “tell the world” anything about the party’s next move.
“Our members and supporters are well aware that we believe in local government elections. What we believe this list is flawed. It is bloated and we have to deal with it before we decide on whether we run in this election or not…Whatever mechanisms we use, we will maintain control of our stronghold,” he said.
The APNU+AFC is in charge of the capital city and observers have been saying that although Norton is politicking, he cannot afford to boycott the local government polls. Guyanese will go to the polls to elect leaders for 10 townships and approximately 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).
Arguing his case for the cleansing of the list before LGE, Norton said that while local government polls are important, they are not as important as the national elections and can be deferred. He said that the APNU+AFC will continue advocating for a clean list and will employ all options available to achieve that.
