In a dramatic turn of events, Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of the government of Guyana, declared victory in the Local Government Elections (LGE) while expressing the need for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to provide further clarification. The PPP government had aimed to eliminate opposition representation in APNU strongholds, which coincidentally represent the most populous regions of the country. Their strategy involved extensive recruitment of party defectors and alleged payments to former coalition voters in exchange for their support.
An anonymous observer shared their perspective, stating, “Although it appears that APNU supporters could be swayed politically, despite the substantial investment in communities to secure their political support, the majority remain steadfast due to the PPP’s obvious insincerity. Even their own supporters can see through their tactics, let alone those who are not naturally inclined to support them.”
Another observer emphasized the need for discussion on campaign financing and the necessity for legislation governing such practices. They raised concerns about whether taxpayers’ money was utilized to finance the PPP’s campaign by linking policies, like school cash grants, to election campaigns.
Regardless of the final results reported by GECOM, the APNU managed to retain its strongholds despite limited resources, countering the PPP’s massive investment in the elections. It is evident that, according to various accounts, the PPP’s efforts have fallen short.
