This week we asked the man/woman in the street about the absence of local government elections over the last 20 years.
These were their responses:
Jermaine McLaren, security guard: `I think it should be happening regularly because it would benefit us a lot and we’ll be seeing some change. But it’s all left up to the government now.’
Marcus Leitch, porter: `It needs to happen fast because we need a better government and sometime we on the road suffer because of their drama. It affects business and you got to struggle. They should be holding it more regularly, like every three years; twenty years is too long.’
Albert Pedro, vendor: `I’m my opinion, the holding of local government elections is necessary. To carry out the democratic process of governance, we need to have the elections. Now that the legislation is in place, the President needs to take the bold initiative to set a date and hold the elections. We’re only slowing the development of the city; we’re all in the ship fighting and the ship still moving on.’
John Narine, construction worker: `It’s very bad that it’s been so long. They should get a change; there should be change.’
James Lawson, miner: `From my point of view, I think they should select the person who is capable of doing the job the right way. From what I see, they not doing a proper job right now.’
Leon Dotson, nut vendor
`Well I think they should hold a local government elections to select someone to put things in proper perspective in the city… twenty years is too long.’
Henceworth Mingo, businessman
`I think it’s bad for democracy that local government elections hasn’t been called for twenty years. It is also very important for community development that it be called, and I think they should hold it and end the mess. It is bad for our country.’
Robert Jaikaran, driver
`We need local government election because we need a change to get this place clean. It is too long for this council be in power. They [the council] ain’t clean up, no one comes to my area and clean.’
Lawrence Glen, rice farmer
`It is ridiculous and I can’t see the reason they don’t want to hold local government election.’
Wendy Morrison, pensioner
`I think the local government elections will bring a change in the state of the city.’
