Historic Power Shift… PPP/C seizes control of Region Four

Oct 11, 2025 News

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By Shania Williams

(Kaieteur News) – In a historic political upset, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has taken control of Region Four, Guyana’s most populated and politically influential region, ending decades of dominance by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) level.

PPP/C members Clemsford Belgrave and Deoraj Nauth were on Friday elected as the new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Region Four RDC, respectively. The announcement came during a tense council meeting at the RDC office in Triumph, East Coast Demerara, where the results sparked outrage among APNU members and accusations of betrayal from other opposition parties.

Region Four, long considered an APNU stronghold, experienced a dramatic shift in political power following the 2025 General and Regional Elections. The PPP/C secured 87,028 votes, while APNU followed with 46,770 votes, and the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, garnered 41,936 votes. The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), led by Amanza Walton-Desir, earned one seat with 2,689 votes.

At the close of the elections, PPP/C obtained 17 seats on the council, APNU captured 9, WIN secured 8, and FGM held 1. With no single party holding an outright majority, much of the focus centered on smaller parties like WIN and FGM, whose votes were expected to determine the balance of power. Although it was initially believed that the decisive vote rested with the Forward Guyana Movement, the unexpected lack of support from the WIN party ultimately cost APNU the chairmanship in its traditional stronghold.

During Friday’s meeting, what began as a routine swearing-in ceremony quickly escalated into a heated session. The Region Four Clerk of Council Donald Gajraj announced that voting would be conducted by secret ballot rather than a show of hands, a decision that angered APNU representatives, who accused the council of lacking transparency.

For the Chairmanship, APNU’s candidate, Shanika Haynes, was nominated alongside PPP/C’s Clemsford Belgrave. When the votes were tallied, Belgrave secured 18 votes, while Haynes received only 8. Two ballots were spoiled, and seven were left blank, giving the PPP/C its first-ever control of the Region Four chairmanship.

The Vice Chairmanship vote saw similar results. PPP/C’s Deoraj Nauth received 17 votes from his party members, while Haynes, nominated again by APNU, garnered 11. Two votes were spoiled, and five remained blank, solidifying the PPP/C’s leadership in both top positions.

APNU’s low voter support resulted from the lack of backing by opposition parties, particularly the WIN party. Had all opposition councillors united behind APNU, the party would have secured the chairmanship. However, due to disagreements stemming from outcomes in other regions, the WIN party chose not to support.

Following his election, Chairman Belgrave described the outcome as “a historic moment” for the PPP/C and Region Four. “Our priority as a region is moving Guyana forward with the government.  We are moving forward with region 4 because at the level of the PPP, we would have garnered a lot of voters and support in Region Four and today showed that the other support that we have garnered in terms of electing the chair and vice chair. It is a very historic moment for us, history has been created for Region Four,” he said.

Vice Chairman Nauth echoed his colleague’s sentiments, expressing gratitude to the government and promising collaborative leadership. “We plan to work as a team to move Region Four forward, in keeping with the confidence placed in us by the voters,” he said.

Meanwhile, APNU’s candidate, Shanika Haynes, criticized the use of secret ballots, claiming it undermined transparency in the democratic process.

“Usually, the provision is made where the clerk who carrying out the REO, he will request of the council has been elected, how they vote, whether it be a secret ballot or by the show of hand, he did not do that. He proceeded to say that it has to be a secret ballot and, in my view, that is where we have issues within our democracy because when you revert to that, knowing that you’re doing the underhand business here and there, these are the results,” Haynes stated.

When questioned about possible defections from her camp, Haynes said she could not confirm but noted that several blank ballots were likely from uncertain voters. Members of the WIN party later clarified that their decision to abstain from voting was deliberate.

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• Deoraj Nauth, PPP/C, Region Four, Seizes Control

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