Duncan drops out of Mayoral race hour before election

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan who was contending for the Mayor of Georgetown at today’s election, has announced his withdrawal from the race less than an hour before the poll.

In a social media post moments ago, Duncan said he will continue to serve his constituency, no. 14 South Ruimveldt / Ruimveldt Industrial Estate.

Reason given for the decision is the intervening of Government Ministers in the local government process as well as the use of municipal resources to campaign for the serving Mayor of the Town.

Duncan outlined that his push to contend the positions was fuelled by belief that the President David Granger led administration’s authorities at the Local Government level “could agree to disagree and yet disagree agreeably.”

However, he said “in the last few days the local government process has been tainted with ministerial intervention and it is my belief that Councillors have been coerced to give their support in a particular direction to maintain the status quo; undermining the democratic process. This and the use of municipal resources to campaign for the incumbent does not auger well for our local democracy, and presents an unleveled playing field; a selection of Mayor and not an election.”

The Deputy Mayor noted that these factors have caused him to reevaluate his candidacy.

It is his view that the person who serves in the position as Deputy Mayor from today (Thursday, December 15, 2015) should also be someone who is “more in tuned with the incumbent Mayor’s thinking and work ethic.”

During his campaign, Duncan outlined a vision for the city which sought to make it a modern international city through the exercise of fiscal responsibility; meaningfully re-engaging the business community and Private Sector, while recapitalizing City Hall towards efficiency and public service.

He had told News Room that if he is given the chance to serve as Mayor, the first order of business is a forensic audit of City Hall’s financial records and consultations with all stakeholders especially the creditors.