Norton boasts of election win despite failure to field candidates in numerous areas

Boastsof electoral victory at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) were mouthed by leader of the PNCR and the APNU+AFC Coalition, Aubrey Norton.

“We are satisfied that we are going to beat the People’s Progressive Party in these upcoming elections in the areas that they claim they command support,” Norton said on Thursday morning (May 18, 2023) during a press briefing.

However, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has confirmed that there will be no contest in 291 of the 610 constituencies being contested for the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE).

The PPP/C is contesting in all 610 constituencies, meaning the 291 areas have been automatically won by the PPP/C because there is no contest. Meanwhile, the APNU is contesting the 2023 LGE, not the Coalition or the PNCR.

According to the Commission, 98 of the constituencies where there is no contest

– meaning only one political party submitted list of candidates – are found in 13 Local Authority Areas in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9. GECOM explained that the other 193 of the constituencies are from other Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

GECOM said, “The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) takes this opportu- nity to inform all Stakeholders, that there are thirteen (13) LAAs with a combined total of ninety-eight (98) Constituencies, and one hundred and ninety-three (193) additional Constituencies from among other LAAs in which there will be no need for eligible persons to vote due to the existence of unopposed Lists. The exis- tence of an unopposed List of Candidates for a LAA/Constituency effectively means that there is no need for the electors to vote. Accordingly, there is no need for the establishment of Polling Stations in such LAAs/Constituencies.”

Notably, Section 54 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act provides that if only one List of Candidates for any Local Authority Area (LAA) has been approved, the persons whose names appear on the List shall be deemed to have been elected as Councillors due to the approved List being unopposed and therefore, the Candidates in the unopposed List shall be declared the winner of the election.

GECOM said, “Recognizing that voters may not be aware of whether the LAA/ Constituency in which they are registered to vote would have been affected by an unopposed List, GECOM has posted the separate lists of the affected LAAs and Constituencies on its website i.e. www.gecom.org.gy so that eligible persons can check to ascertain whether elections would be held in their areas of residence. Alternatively, person may visit the Office of the Returning Officer for the Municipality or Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), in which they reside, to find out whether voting will take place therein. Moreover, GECOM, as a component of its Civic and Voter Education strategy, will make public announcement and distribute appropriate literature in all of the affected LAAs/Constituencies towards ensuring that the relevant voters are made aware of why they are not required to vote.”

Monday, June 12, 2023 is set at the date for the 2023 Local Government Elections.