Region Ten remains without a Regional Chairman or Vice Chairman more than a month after its October 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) election ended in a dramatic tie — a deadlock that has paralysed the Council’s leadership and drawn growing accusations of political manipulation.
According to official figures released by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) following the September 1, 2025 Regional Elections, WIN emerged as the dominant party in Region Ten, earning nine (9) seats, ahead of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with five (5) seats, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with three (3) seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with one seat.
Despite its plurality, WIN has been unable to assume regional leadership due to a 9–9 tie in the internal RDC vote for both top positions. WIN nominated Mark Goring for Regional Chairman, while APNU nominated Dominique Blair. Both secured nine votes from the 18-member council.
WIN subsequently called for the resumption of the election, citing provisions in the Local Democratic Organs Act (Cap. 28:09) which require that the process continue until a winner is determined — either through additional voting rounds or, if necessary, the drawing of lots. The report noted that WIN formally wrote to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) requesting the reconvening of the election.
However, the ministry has not acted. Instead, the process remains suspended, leaving Region Ten the only administrative region without an elected Chairman or Vice Chairman.
A follow-up report published by Village Voice News on October 22, 2025, revealed that WIN’s legal team has since issued a notice of legal action to the ministry, warning that the party will seek judicial intervention if the stalemate is not resolved. The party argued that halting the process violated the clear tie-resolution provisions of the law.
“The people of Region Ten have spoken through the ballot,” WIN declared in a statement. “The continued refusal by the ministry to facilitate the lawful completion of the RDC election is undemocratic and politically motivated.”
Political observers have condemned the government’s silence. Randy Gopaul, Village Voice News political analyst said the ministry’s inaction “undermines local democracy and betrays a dangerous trend of central interference.”
“This is not a mere procedural delay,” he commentator said. “It is a calculated political manoeuvre to weaken a region where the ruling party performed poorly.”
Gopaul described the situation as “institutional paralysis created by partisanship.” He warned that the absence of regional leadership “could delay budget approvals, disrupt project oversight, and erode citizens’ trust in regional governance.”
Although all 18 councillors have been sworn in, the RDC remains effectively leaderless, with administrative functions being managed only by the Regional Executive Officer (REO). Without elected leadership, key decisions on infrastructure, health, and education projects have stalled.
WIN has accused the Ministry of Local Government of “deliberate political obstruction”, arguing that the government’s refusal to act reflects partisan intent to destabilise an opposition-dominated region.
Analysts and civil society groups are now urging the combined parliamentary opposition to escalate the matter in the National Assembly, demanding that the ministry either reconvene the election or face judicial sanction.
As of November 12, 2025, Region Ten remains the only administrative region without an elected RDC leadership — a political vacuum that, critics warn, risks deepening distrust in Guyana’s local democratic system.
