A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has managed a slim win in its stronghold of New Amsterdam, staving off an all-out campaign by the ruling PPP/C to eject it from control of the council.
Unofficial reports received by Stabroek News showed a 738 votes difference between APNU, who gathered 3,074 and the PPP/C which managed to secure 2336. The PPP/C was also able to win three of the seven constituencies in the township and secure six of the fourteen seats on the council.
Despite the PPP’s use of crossover candidates to pull votes, APNU’s candidates secured enough support for a win. In constituency six, former supporter of APNU, Nicola Luther, who campaigned for the PPP, secured 262 votes against APNU’s Kim Stephens who got 208 votes. Councillor Esan Vanderstoop, who crossed over from APNU to the PPP/C, lost to APNU candidate Ocieana Blake. The vote was 207 to 398. APNU candidate Kirk Fraser who was pitted against former APNU supporter Qwesi Joseph managed to secure a landslide win of 567 to 199 votes.
In 2018, APNU had a strong showing, securing 10 of the 14 seats with the AFC securing one seat and the PPP/C three seats.
