‘Smooth’ Nomination Day in Berbice, parties say
the first to arrive since they held their spot since Thursday afternoon. The PPP/C was the second party there to hand in their list with URP handing in right after, followed by the AFC.
Mayor New Amsterdam Winifred Haywood, after submitting her party’s list, said that it was a smooth process.
At the Canefield/Enterprise NDC office, at around 11am, only the PPP/C and the URP had handed in their lists. Over at the Rose Hall (Corentyne) Primary School, it was a peaceful atmosphere. The two APNU representatives present shook hands with the 12 representatives present for the PPP/C as they wished each other the best of luck.
The Mayor of Rose Hall Town told Stabroek News, “We had no problem, everything went smooth.”
Chairman of Region Six David Armogan explained that some clarification was needed about the employment of one of the persons on their list. However, he too dubbed the process a smooth one. Armogan noted that the PPP/C plans to contest all the areas throughout Region Six.
The URP also submitted a list to contest the municipality. According to a representative, they plan to contest all three municipalities in Region Six along with the 52 – 74 NDC, the Crabwood Creek, Canefield/Enterprise and Fort Ordinance areas.
According to APNU representative Barbara Pilgrim, the coalition plans to contest all three municipalities and the entire Region Six except the of Kintyre/Borlam area. Dereck Basdeo, of the AFC, told this publication that they will be contesting two municipalities: Rose Hall Town and New Amsterdam, along with some 10 NDCs throughout Region Six. He noted that they will not be contesting the Kintyre/Borlam and Gibraltar/Fyrish areas.
Stabroek News was told that after 2pm, only the PPP/C had submitted a list to contest the Kintyre/ Borlam area.
Security guards keeping spaces
Meanwhile, the PPP/C yesterday spoke out about security guards in certain areas holding spaces for political parties although no representatives were present. Stabroek News was told that in the Plegtanker/Koorberaadt NDC this was done, which led to APNU submitting their list first.
Armogan yesterday noted that the idea of guards holding spots is wrong, irregular and illegal. “That is something we have to take up with the elections commission because guards are not supposed to keep space for political parties, their job is to ensure security in the buildings,” he said. The Chairman alleged that it was the guards who were placed at the schools. “I don’t know if they were paid or what,” he said.
Although it was Nomination Day yesterday, residents of the ancient county went about their day normally. One taxi driver told this publication that he was unaware that it was Nomination Day. After the concept was explained to him, he said, “I don’t really follow these things but I glad to know now.”