Samuel Hinds is PPP/C prime ministerial candidate

Samuel Hinds

The ruling Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has named Samuel Hinds as its prime ministerial candidate for the November 28 polls, his fifth such nomination.

Presidential candidate Donald Ramotar made the announcement Sunday October 16 at a rally in the bauxite mining town of Linden.

“He is a man who has shown tremendous intelligence and a capacity for hard work. He has shown dedication. He has shown that he is ready and he has indicated his desire to continue to work hard on behalf of the people of this country,” Ramotar said.

Hinds, 68, has been prime minister since the PPP/C attained power in 1992 having served Presidents Dr Cheddi Jagan; his widow, Janet Jagan; and outgoing Bharrat Jagdeo.

Ramotar told those gathered that his party, if re-elected, plans to negotiate with the two bauxite companies that operate in the country to expand their production and to develop new products.

He said this will “see greater value added in the bauxite industry.

“We expect that we will succeed in pressing them in this direction and you can expect almost immediately...that we will create over 1,000 new jobs in this region in a very short space of time,” he said.

Days earlier, the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) promised to reform the police force if it wins next month’s general and regional elections.

Member Debra Backer said the police force would be rebranded the Guyana Police Service.

She said a PNCR government would also accept British and Canadian help to improve security within the country.

On Sunday, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announced that it had started printing the Official List of electors.

It said electronic copies have been given to leader representatives of the two parties.

“Electronic copies of the document were likewise given to the other Parties which were represented in the recently dissolved Parliament. Other Political Parties are being provided with copies of the certified OLE upon request,” GECOM stated.

More than 40,000 could be added to voters’ list

At Friday September 30th’s close of enumeration for the November 30 voters’ list, in excess of 40,000 persons had applied to be added since publication of the last list on May 31. Of that number, a record 9,000 applied in the final week.

According to Director of Elections Orette Fisher, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) would now be processing the applications before the final publication of the list. 

“At this stage we could not say if these 40,000 applicants would be going on the list until they have been processed. We have to now do things like check fingerprints to make sure they have not been on the list before and to ensure that they are eligible, resident verification to make sure persons actually live at the address they give, and so on,” he stated.

“I also could not say the exact number of those who would be removed, because of death. So when the new list is published, we would have those successful applicants being added and those reported as dead being removed.”

Fisher said there were over 1.6 million persons on the list before, so if all the applicants are successful there would be more than 40,000 added to the list. 

Persons who missed Friday’s deadline will have to wait until next year May to be added to the voters’ list.

Going into the general elections constitutionally due next year, he said at this stage EOJ was in a basic state of readiness, which included the November 30 voters’ list, polling locations identified and blank ballots to be printed. 

He added that the things such as workers, equipment and technicians would be left until closer to the election.

Fisher also said that some of the equipment used in the last election needed replacement, while additional equipment were needed in some cases, which would be funded from the election budget.

President to announce elections date soon

Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo said, on Tuesday October 4, now that he has been informed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as to the status quo of the Official List of Electors – or Voters’ List – he will announce the date of elections “within a week.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo says he will announce the date of elections within a week from October 4.

He made the announcement about ‘the big announcement’ at a press briefing held at the Office of the President on Tuesday.

The President told reporters that GECOM sent him a letter, in which the Commission detailed its readiness for the holding of the upcoming polls. The letter reads: “Excellency, please be advised that the Official List of Electors has been prepared in accordance with the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08, the Registration of the People Act 103, the Elections Laws Amendment Act number 15 of 2000.

“Please be further informed that the Official List of Electors has been duly certified by Mr. Gocool Boodhoo, Chief Elections Officer and is now ready for publication. Accompanying this letter is a CD containing the OLE in PDF format,” stated the letter – signed by GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally.

President Jagdeo told reporters that, “now that I have received the notification from the Chairman of the Elections Commission, I plan to – and I know most of you showed up here for this announcement - I plan to, within the week [announce a date for elections]. 

“As most of you will be aware, I have been on record that this would be held in the constitutionally prescribed period for elections in Guyana and so everything will be done in accordance with our Constitution,” the President said.

GECOM had announced that November 14 was its earliest ready date. The President is not expected to set a polling date prior to this. 

Further, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Luncheon, at his last post-Cabinet press briefing, had corrected his earlier stated date by which the new Parliament must be in place. This date is January 28, 2012, four months after the dissolution of the last Parliament. Dr. Luncheo had previously announced December 28, 2011 as that date.

According to the HPS, contracts for the procurement of polling day equipment, tools and materials were also presented and approved by Cabinet. GECOM has assured that, thus far, no ‘hiccups’ have been recorded as preparations are proceeding as planned, according to Dr. Luncheon.

Mani Singh - NDP Candidate for Brampton-Springdale

The NDP Riding Association of Brampton-Springdale is pleased to announce that Mr. Mani Singh was nominated to be its Candidate for the upcoming Provincial Elections set for October 6th, 2011.

Mani Singh is a long time supporter and member of the NDP since emigrating to Canada over three decades ago. He is a community activist and champions the cause for equality and social justice in not only Canada but the whole world.

He is a Real Estate Agent by profession and has been with Re/Max West Realty Inc. since 1989. He has received the Re/Max Lifetime Achievement Award and is also a member of the distinguished Re/Max Hall of Fame.

He has lived and worked in the Brampton area for almost thirty years so he is very much aware of the issues and concerns of all Bramptonians, especially the residents of the Riding of Brampton-Springdale. Mani is indeed well suited to serving and representing the people of this community.

On October 6th, 2011, please vote for Mani Singh and send a strong, effective and consistent voice to Queen's Park. The needs of the people MUST come FIRST!

Phone : 905.794.9948
Twitter : http://twitter.com/manisinghndp
Facebook : Mani Singh Brampton-Springdale NDP