OP-ED: Laughing on the Outside, Crying on the Inside, PPP’s Contrived Happiness Attempts to Conceal Defeat in Local Government Elections

The PPP government of Guyana finds itself in a peculiar position following the results of the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) in 2023. While they attempt to project an image of jubilation, the truth is that the PPP leadership and its supportive media were left shell-shocked as the outcome became clear. The celebrations now unfolding resemble a festive atmosphere at a funeral, as the party tries to mask its underlying disappointment. Despite an increase in the number of seats compared to 2018, the results have been received by the PPP leadership as a defeat.

Confident in their potential to win the most populous towns, namely Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and Linden, the PPP threw everything they had into these campaigns. They went as far as persuading prominent APNU and Independent councillors, such as Patricia Chase Greene and Malcolm Ferreira, to join their ranks. However, both were resoundingly rejected by the constituents they sought to represent. The PPP also employed urban youth influencers, some with questionable backgrounds, by offering them small cleaning contracts, and allegedly paid individuals to vote for the party and don their jerseys.

State policies were shamelessly transformed into electioneering gimmicks, exemplified by the distribution of school cash grants just one week before the elections in early June. This ill-timed maneuver provided parents with little opportunity to purchase supplies for the upcoming school year. Superficial efforts were made to hastily resurface roads, fill potholes, and clear grounds, all done in a hurried and seemingly substandard manner. Conversely, the APNU struggled with a disjointed campaign, lacking a coherent message. The Leader of the Opposition was conspicuously absent from media coverage, while the social media campaign appeared muted. APNU’s alliance partner, aside from Sherod Duncan, remained largely silent. The media landscape was dominated by incessant clips featuring Vice-President Jagdeo.

Given the substantial resources invested in the towns where the PPP concentrated their efforts, their defeat in these areas must sting. The party is well aware of the stinging rejection it received. This is evident in the viral clip of a hysterical Minister Deodat Indar hurling abuses at GECOM workers, as well as the nearly 24-hour silence and somber expressions displayed by the PPP crew. Their attempts to spin the narrative today cannot conceal the truth—the PPP suffered a significant loss, to borrow a term from Trump’s lexicon, they lost “bigly.”

As the dust settles, it becomes evident that the PPP’s contrived happiness cannot overshadow the reality of their defeat in the LGE. The party must reckon with the rejection they faced in the towns they poured immense effort into. The APNU, although disjointed, now has an opportunity to regroup, learn from their shortcomings, and strategize for future elections. The Guyanese people have sent a clear message, and the PPP would be wise to acknowledge and address the concerns that led to this setback.