Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
Chair and Vice-Chair of Region 10 will be sworn in at the appropriate time – Pres. Ali
(Kaieteur News) – While the Regional Chairpersons and vice- chairpersons for nine regions were sworn in on Thursday by President Irfaan Ali, Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Upper Berbice) remains without elected leadership.
Region Ten’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC) election was held since October 10, but ended in a tie with nine votes each for candidates for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). This led to the elections being suspended by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dwight John and referred the matter to the Minister of Local Government, Priya Manickchand.
President Irfaan Ali
Despite an ultimatum and legal actions threatened by WIN for the elections to be reconvened, to date this has not been done.
Following the swearing-in ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, President Ali addressed concerns about the unresolved leadership in Region 10.
On the sidelines of the event, when asked whether he was concerned that the region has no Chair or Vice-Chair, he said, “I’m sure that within the ambit of the Constitution, and within the ambit of the rules governing the elections, that the Chair and Vice-Chair of Region 10 will be sworn in at the appropriate time when they conclude their elections. As you know that is a process that is still ongoing.”
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained leadership for all other regions expect Region Seven, which was secured by newcomer We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Region 10 has traditionally been a stronghold of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). However, the PNC led APNU was dethroned at the 2025 general and regional elections by newcomer WIN.
For this region, a total of 18 councilors were sworn in: nine for WIN, five for APNU, three for PPP, and one for the FGM.
There were two nominations for regional chairman, WIN’s Mark Goring and APNU’s Dominque Blair. Both men received nine votes each.
Since the RDC elections, WIN has been complaining bitterly about the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair and has noted that the absence has created a serious governance vacuum within the RDC and is now impeding the statutory and developmental functions of the region’s highest decision-making body.
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