PPP urges diplomatic community to pay keen attention to LGE

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) today called on the Diplomatic Community in Guyana to pay close attention to the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for March 18, 2016.

In a statement, the Party said it has noted the contributions and offers made to Gecom by the donor community here. In this respect it noted that Canada and India have already made significant contributions to Gecom with India contributing $8.3 Million and Canada CDN$20,000.

“These contributions are viewed by the Party as (an) investment in the democratic, grass roots governance process. In this respect, the Party is of the view that it behoves the Donor Community to ensure that the Local Government Elections produces greater inclusion, civic responsibility, empowerment and participation on the part of the electorate in the seventy-one (71) Local Authority Areas where elections are scheduled to be held”, the PPP said.

It added that it wished to draw to the attention of the Diplomatic Community that “all is not well at Gecom since there has been no improvements whatever in the policy, administration nor operational levels at Gecom.”

The PPP said that Elections Observers are advised to keep a close watch on the process where alpha splits would be used to determine the numbers of polling stations to be used and the number of electors that will be allowed to vote at those polling stations.

The Party said it has also raised its concerns and reservations with respect voting by the Disciplined Forces.

The party expressed disappointment that the list showing the names on the Disciplined Forces roll has not been made public nor handed to the political parties to date for scrutiny and particularly in light of the fact that voting by members of the Disciplined Forces is a mere thirty days away from today.