APNU moves to court to stop 2023 LGE

REGION 5

43. Joe Hook / Farm (Region 5)

44. Hamlet/Chance (Region 5)

45. Mahaicony / Abary (Region 5)

46. Profit/Rising Sun (Region 5)

47. Seafield/Tempe (Region 5)

48. Union/Naarstigheid (Region 5)

49. Bath/Woodley Park (Region 5)

50. Woodlands/Bel Air (Region 5)

51. Zeelust-Rosignol (Region 5)

52. Blairmont/Gelderland (Region 5)

Region 6

53. Plegt Anker/Kortberaad (Region 6)

54. Wyburg/Caracas (Region 6)

55. Enfield/New Doe Park (Region 6)

56. Municipality Of New Amsterdam (Region 6)

57. Gibraltar/Fyrish (Region 6)

58. Ordnance Fort Lands/No. 38 (Region 6)

59. Canefield/Enterprise (Region 6)

60. Kintyre/Borlam (Region 6)

61. Kilcoy/Hampshire (Region 6)

62. Municipality Of Rose Hall (Region 6)

63. Port Mourant/Johns (Region 6)

64. Bloomfield/Whim (Region 6)

65. Lancaster/Hogstye (Region 6)

66. Adventure/No. 28 (Bush Lot) (Region 6)

67. Maida/Tarlogie (Region 6)

68. Black Bush Polder (Region 6)

69. Macedonia/Joppa (Region 6)

70. Good Hope/No. 51 (Region 6)

71. No. 52/No. 63 (Region 6)

72. No. 64/No. 74 (Region 6)

73. Crabwood Creek/Moleson Creek (Region

6)

74. Municipality Of Corriverton (Region 6)

REGION 7

75. Municipality of Bartica (Region 7)

REGION 8

76. Municipality of Mahdia

REGION 9

77. Municipality Of Lethem (Region 9)

78. Aranaputa/Upper Burro Burro (Region 9)

REGION 10

79. Municipality of Linden

80. Kwakwani

TheA Partnership for National Unity (APNU), made up largely of the PNCR, has filed an application to stop the 2023 Local Government Elections from being held.

The application in the High Court was made by Carol Smith-Joseph, the chief scrutineer of APNU, and a supporting affidavit was filed by Vincent Alexander, the APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Smith-Joseph contends that Article 72 of the Constitution and Section 3 (1) (a) and (b) of the Local Authorities Act Chapter 28:03 were violated. She has asked the Court for an order directing GECOM to comply with the legal provisions cited before attempting to change the boundaries of any constituency in Guyana and before the holding of Local Government Elections.

Notably, on January 31, 2023, GECOM decided to change the boundaries of 37 constituencies in 19 local authority areas by a majority vote. It later gave this direc- tive in an order. On February 8, 2023, the modifications were made and published in the official gazette.

Alexander contends that the APNU will suffer if the June 12, 2023 elections go place with the established boundary changes. He further asserts that Vishnu Persaud, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), was given the responsibility of conducting a field exercise and presenting recommendations to the Commissioners about the redrawing and/or setting of constituency boundaries for the purpose of holding local government elections. He said that the Commissioners made the decision that the precedents set by earlier field exercises should serve as the field exercise's guidelines. Since the law allowed for such demarcation to be done by combining and/or subdividing electoral divisions, Alexander argued that the CEO's field officers had found no issues with the demarcation suggested by the Minister of Local Government in the report he later presented. Alexander said that he could not think of any precedence, and given the urgency, he, the CEO, requested that the borders be drawn in accordance with his advice, which was in line with the Minister of Local Government's earlier recommendation. However, according to Alexander's affidavit, Commissioners rejected this at a meeting on January 10 and told the CEO to proceed with the exercise in accordance with prior practice. Alexander asserted that the CEO once more stated that he could not locate a precedent. Alexander claimed to have given reports detailing conversations about how the exercise should be done as well as papers that demonstrate how the exercise has been carried out in the past. However, the Commission determined that the CEO should move forward with his exercise, and after he presents his report, the Commission will decide and take into account the issues raised by him, Alexander. In his affidavit, he stated that he plans to argue that the CEO only took account of the population of the ar-

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Police report made over APNU intimidation of their former supporters

ThePeople’s Progressive Party has condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the recent acts of bullyism and intimidation by the PNCR-led Coalition’s Dexter Forte, Sharma Solomon and Vanessa Kissoon, which were perpetrated against Trichria Richards and Rawle Powers of the PPP/C.

“These matters are currently engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and we urge that condign action be taken against the perpetrators,” the Party said in a brief statement.

Meanwhile, Richards, in a statement charged that it is “shocking to see the lengths to which some individuals would go to humiliate and intimidate persons” who have exercised their constitutional rights to associate and to belong to any party, group or organization of their choice.

She said, “On Nomination Day I publicly indicted that I will be contesting the Local Government Elections as a candidate for the PPP/C. Since that time, I have been subjected to the most vicious and vile threats from the members of PNC and APNU, a party I once supported.

“In particular, Mr. Dexter Forte, a City Councillor has harassed and verbally abused me because I chose to exercise my democratic right to associate with the PPP/C. At the last statutory meeting, held Monday, 25th April 2023, Mr. Forte used derogatory remarks against me. As a woman, I did not retaliate. Last evening, while talking with a comrade, at the front of the East Ruimveldt Police Station, Mr. Forte, publicly hurled nasty and profane words at me. I again did not reply to his abuses. I have since filed a report of the incident to the East Ruimveldt Police Station.”

According to her, at this period of our nation's history, associates of the PNC are attempting to dictate to Afro-Guyanese like myself who we should support politically and this cannot be the order of the day. “I will continue to stand up and represent my constituency. As Bob Marley said, ‘You a-go tired fe see me face. Can't get me out of the race’,” Richards declared.

Richards, a former APNU+AFC Councillor at City Hall, crossed over to the PPP/C last month. The PNC/R has suffered major blows with the crossover of at least two of its members. Aside from Richards, longstanding PNC/R supporter, and former Georgetown Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen, has also joined the PPP/C camp.