Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Naraine has expressed his readiness for Local Government Elections slated for March 23, 2023. He is however concerned about the current voters list which by all indications, will not be reviewed ahead of the upcoming elections.
In a statement issued on social media, the mayor highlighted that it was the incumbent administration while in Opposition that called for a new voters list in 2015. He noted that on that occasion, the administration requested that the list be compiled based on fresh house-to-house enumeration as part of a number of recommendations for reforms to enhance credibility of the list.
Naraine told the Guyana Standard that there was a plethora of issues that arose at the last elections with regard to the current list. During a telephone interview with this news outlet, he said he is concerned about the current list and the adverse effects it could have on results next year.
“During our 2020 National (General) and Regional Elections, there were numerous things that were raised within that recount then the recently appointed PPP Commissioner, Clement Rohee, indicated that if we really want to see a fair election we need a new list.” The Mayor said.
Mayor Naraine believes that there must be a level of transparency when voters elect officials for various municipalities across Guyana. He noted that while GECOM has expressed its readiness, there must still be a level of confidence in the system.
“It is something within our country that we are not holding politicians by their words. The people of my country need to hold politicians accountable on their policies and what they had called for,” the mayor noted.
In excess of $783 million was approved this year for the holding of next year’s Local Government Elections (LGE)as part of GECOM’s 2022 budgetary allocation. Some $2.9 billion has been allocated to GECOM for preparatory works to ensure the successful planning and execution of LGE.
