RESIDENTS of the mining town of Linden, on Wednesday, celebrated the landslide victory they delivered to the coalition with a grand motorcade that started from Amelia’s Ward and culminated at the popular ‘Five Corner’ Junction, where a grand after party was held.
Another commenced at the Wisroc Junction and culminated on Burnham Drive. Scores of vehicles joined the procession, hocking their horns to victory while waving their coalition flags and playing campaign songs. Leading them was a sound truck playing hyped and celebratory music. Scores of Lindeners spectated at street corners along the route, cheering them on and waving their coalition flags. At the Five Corner they were welcomed by another large crowd who were partying, blowing horns and waving their coalition flags.
Former Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, said that the activity was only a celebration of the regional win and is not to be mistaken as a premature celebration of the coalition’s victory at the general elections. He urged residents to remain patient and wait on GECOM for official results. “I assure supporters to remain calm and patient and allow GECOM to do its work in bringing us free, fair and credible elections,” Figueira said.
When the Guyana Chronicle spoke to some residents, they basically said they were celebrating victory. “Victory for the coalition, we gon celebrate whole night tonight. Let the blow, blow, blow. Victory for the coalition,” he said. Meanwhile business in Linden was as normal. The market arena was buzzing with activities and schools did not see a decline in attendance by neither teachers nor children. Pensioners were busy collecting their pensions, public transportation was available and restaurants and bars were opened.
There lingered however, a feeling of anxiety and nervousness in the atmosphere and the talk of the town remained on the elections results being declared. With Linden being a APNU+AFC stronghold, residents were naturally disappointed in the PPP gaining victory for almost all of the regions the results were declared for thus far. They remained hopeful that the APNU+AFC will make a grand come back with a landslide victory from Region Four. Thus far, the coalition secured regional victory in Regions 10 and Eight.
In Region 10, the APNU+AFC secured approximately 19153 votes out of the 22130 valid votes that were cast on elections day. This is approximately 3000 more votes, compared to the 16791 that were cast at the 2015 Regional and General Elections. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), managed to pick up about 3202 votes, which is about 250 more votes that were cast in 2015. Other small parties that made some in roads in Region 10, include Change Guyana with 187 votes, the People’s Republic Party with 69 votes and the United Republic Party, with about 119 votes. There was a 66 per cent voter turnout in Region 10. In 2015, 19742 persons voted, while in 2020, 22130 votes were cast. Out of these, there were 311 rejected votes.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_03_05_2020