Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 15, 2016 News
– Wynter returned as New Amsterdam Mayor; Mabaruma ends in tie
Internal elections at municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are continuing, with Mayor for New Amsterdam, Kirt Wynter and his Deputy, Winifred Heywood, returning unopposed yesterday.
However, the elections at Mabaruma, Region One, have resulted in a tie, with another round of elections to be held soon.
According to the Ministry of Communities, yesterday’s elections at New Amsterdam, East Berbice, were held without a glitch.
“Immediately after his re-election, Wynter disclosed that any environment where progress is to be had should be free from the political gimmickry and petty upheavals,” the ministry quoted him as saying in a press release.
The internal elections are among the first major signs that local government bodies are being brought into line after years in the wilderness.
Local Government Elections (LGE) was held earlier this year after more than two decades without one. Prior to this there had been increasing local and international pressure – especially from donors – to hold elections.
The delays had been because of key legislation being in limbo before the National Assembly.
Many of the NDCs and municipalities had become defunct, with members either dead or migrated.
The administration had vowed to hand more power to the bodies to ensure that communities are better run. They can now raise rates and taxes without having to seek approval from Government.
The internal elections are supposed to be held every year, with the current ones being the first since the LGE this year.
However, it has been anything but routine.
Former Mayor of Corriverton, East Berbice, Ganesh Gangadin, lost his seat to his only contender, Krishnand Jaichand, the former Deputy Mayor. This was after a tie and accusations of political interference.
Already, Anna Regina held its elections, with Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud being re-elected to their substantive positions.
The Mayoral Elections are slated to be completed by tomorrow.
However, the big one that everybody will be paying attention to is the one for the capital city, Georgetown.
With years of neglect and in-fighting by various factions, the LGE had brought hopes of changes. However, new Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, a long-time councillor, has been under pressure, especially with a major project to install parking meters in key parts of the city.
The contract was questioned, but the city is steaming ahead.
The elections are set for today with Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, already announcing his intentions to contend for the top post as chief citizen of the city.
Duncan, who had energized his past and present campaign riding to work on a bicycle and even wearing a body-fitting rubber suit to encourage a cleaner Georgetown, has clashed with the Mayor and other councillors over a number of issues, including the aforementioned parking meter contract.
Pic filed as patricia chase green
City Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green
Pic filed as sherod Duncan
Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan
Pic filed kirt winter
Returned as New Amsterdam Mayor: Kirt Wynter
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]