The last time Guyana hosted local government elections was back in 1994. Now with Guyanese heading back the polls after more than two decades to elect local representatives, the governing APNU+AFC coalition appears confident that it will be able to win the majority as it did at the May 2015 national elections.
The coalition has been in government for just eight months and ensuring local government elections was one of its campaign promises. With the elections less than two months away, the partnership intends to bring experience and youth together.
The APNU+AFC handed in its list of candidates for the Georgetown area on Monday morning as the nomination process got underway. With dozens of supporters dressed in their green and yellow waving the coalition’s colours in the background, Representative of the List, Oscar Clarke said it is important to ensure a mixture for the elections.
“Our team is one that is mixed. It has men and women, young and middle age and older people like myself but we think it is important that there is this blend because this blend is going to be able to bring the experience and blend it with the young people coming in and ensuring that they, who have the greater energy, would be able to energize the council”, Clarke said.
He pointed out that there appears to be renewed and great interest in the local government elections and that is a good thing, especially since it is being held for the first time in over twenty years.
Mr. Clarke said that he believes that the new council will focus more on the various constituencies since it will have persons directly representing those constituencies.
Among the new faces on the APNU+AFC list is 24-year-old Akeem Peter, who told News Source he is excited about the process and pleased to find himself on the coalition’s side. He said “it is a proud feeling being among the youngest candidates for the APNU+AFC and its an opportunity that I will treasure. Also, it is good to see other parties coming out to contest the local government elections because it shows they are interested in community development and leadership at a community level”.
APNU+AFC Candidate Akeem Peter
The youth candidate, who represents the constituency which covers Liliendaal and South Sophia, said the focus of his team will be on education, security and infrastructure development.
The APNU+AFC intends to host a number of community meetings as part of its local government campaign.
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