-by Svetlana Marshall-

Local Government Elections got off to an extremely slow start this morning with voters trickling in at their polling stations across the country.

However, many of the country’s political leaders were among some of the early voters in line to cast their ballots in their communiities.

President Irfaan Ali and his wife, First Lady Arya Ali returned to their home village of Leonora and voted at the Leonora Technical Institute (LTI).

The President described the voting process as smooth and straight forward, and he encouraged other electors to cast their ballots. He also dismissed allegations that his People’s Progressive Party was involved in “vote buying” for the elections. He said his party is more focused on development in the various communities.

“Our only plan for Georgetown and any other area in this country is to advance development, advance the welfare of people, improve the lives of people, improve communities and importantly to strengthen local leadership,” President Ali told reporters just after he cast his vote.

While looking to maintain its traditional strongholds, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has its eyes on Municipalities that are traditionally controlled by the Opposition including the Municipalities of Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden.

And according to President Ali, there is nothing to fear as he renewed his government’s commitment not to increase rates and taxes.  

“The PPP/Civic is not about taking over communities, or increasing rates and taxes. We have removed taxes since we came back into Government. We are working in the interest of people, for their development and their communities. That is, it,” the President said.

In the 2018 Local Government Elections, the PPP/C secured seven of the 30 seats at the horseshoe table with A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) securing the majority of the seats.

Over at the Plaisance Health Centre this morning, on the East Coast of Demerara, the Opposition and APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton, said he remains confident of his maintaining its dominance in a number of communities. He said his party’s candidates were on the ground, putting in the work.

“I’m more than confident. We did the work. I believe politics is ground work, not flags in the area, and we did the required ground work,” Norton told reporters shortly after casting his ballot.

The Opposition Leader, who also heads the People’s National Congress, said he is confident that the APNU will win the Municipality of Georgetown.

While the APNU is contesting in most local government areas, Mr. Norton said the focus was on the areas where the party needs to hold on to its base.

“We concentrated on the areas we think we had to work hard, and ensure we maintained. We also focused on some areas we think we can improve our position. For us, this is a trial run for the Regional and General Elections, but we thought we need to expend our resources strategically,” the Opposition Leader.

Municipal Councils controlled by the opposition have accused the PPP government of starving them of resources, thereby crippling their operations.

The Government has been denying those allegations.

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