APNU/AFC Candidate Winston Harding, who was charged for sexually molesting a child, proceeded to contest in yesterday’s Local Government Elections (LGE) despite his Party trumpeting that it had withdrawn its support for the official in those polls.

APNU/AFC Candidate, Winston Harding

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has come in for much criticism over the fact that the electoral body did not carry out the necessary background checks in relation to screening of the candidate. After yesterday’s polls, GECOM still proceeded to count the votes for Harding.

It should be noted that Harding was charged but not convicted of child molestation.

Two days before the LGE was held, the APNU in a statement claimed to have withdrawn its support for the official in the LGE, and a wide cross section of society had commended the Government for such a move.

According to a release, as a result of the alleged behaviour of Winston Harding and the pattern of accusations over the years, his candidature cannot be supported.

In a press release issued last week, the APNU had reiterated that it is firmly against all forms of abuse especially the abuse of women, children and the elderly.