PPP/C takes control of Region 4

-after opposition splits

Underlining the scale of APNU’s defeat in the September 1 polls, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) yesterday captured the coveted Region 4  Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship for the first time in its history after the opposition which held a one-seat majority descended into bickering over the alliances formed in the Regions Eight and 10 votes. APNU’s main constituent, the PNCR had won Region Four in all previous democratic elections.

Had We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and For-ward Guyana Movement (FGM) worked together they would have been able to secure both positions with the 18 votes they held to the PPP/C’s 17 but this was not to be. By the time voting got underway at the Region Four office at Triumph on the East Coast of Demerara, WIN had already been shut out of key positions in Regions 8 and 10 and the party – which captured 25% of the vote at the elections – decided to spoil its votes, handing the PPP/C an easy victory. The  falling out between WIN and APNU will immediately raise questions about their relationship at the level of Parliament. Further embarrassment was to follow APNU when its candidate for chair Shaneika Haynes captured only eight votes though the party had nine votes. As had been expected, it appears that the PPP/C was at least able to attract an opposition councillor to its side so that in the event that the opposition had had a united from it would have still had 18 votes and control of the council.

The PPP/C’s nominees, Clemsford Belgrave and Deoraj Nauth, were elected as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, after receiving 18 of the 35 total votes.

The proceedings were also marked by controversy regarding the voting method, as the Clerk of the RDC, Donald Gajraj made a unilateral decision to use a secret ballot for the election. The secret ballot set the stage for the defector from the opposition ranks to vote for the PPP/C, a vote watched by leading persons from the party incouding Anil Nandlall SC.