(This is the first in a series of reports on the constituency elections that will be held at the March 18 local government elections. The first-past-the-post component of the process allows voters to cast ballots for individuals.)
Elections in Georgetown’s Constituency One on March 18 will pit a UG student, a microscopist and a salesman against an optometrist for the ruling APNU+AFC and a longstanding city councillor for the PPP/C.
The first-past-the-post voting gives the three candidates outside of the two main groupings a chance of winning a city seat if they can sufficiently impress the people living in their neighbourhood.
Wins in any of the 15 constituencies for independents could create a countervailing force on the council and require both of the main groupings to seek coalitions.
Constituency one encompasses Kingston East and West, Thomas Lands, Non-Pariel Park, Cummingsburg, Alberttown and Queenstown.
In interviews with Stabroek News, four of the five candidates laid out what they would do if they won on March 18.
Kingston resident, Joshua Griffith, who is well known in the political arena of student affairs at the University of Guyana told Stabroek News that he is contesting Local Government Elections because he wants to serve and make a difference in his community. “Many young professionals like me often voice their concerns but don’t want to do anything. We often don’t want to stand up and get involved,” he said while adding that advocacy is what he does.
Griffith, who is with the National Building Corp group, told this publication that once given the opportunity to serve his constituency he would establishing avenues for better communication between city council and residents. He explained that his constituency is diverse as there are the commercial, residential and diplomatic sectors and there is need for voices to be heard in the decision-making process.
Additionally, Griffith who is currently the President of the University of Guyana Student Society, said he would be working to eradicate societal ills such as loitering and drug abuse in his community. He stated that he would want a hands-on approach from residents to help with the eradication. Griffith pointed out that it is the responsibility of the community to look out for their fellow citizens.
He pointed out further, that he would also be working to ensure that there is proper drainage, garbage collection and that the environment is well kept.
Griffith is the youngest candidate running for his constituency. He urged his fellow citizens to get out, support and get involved in local government elections. He urged persons to ensure that they cast their votes on election day, even if it is not for him. Griffith’s official campaigning is expected to begin tomorrow.
Supatra Abraham, contesting as part of Team Benschop for Mayor, said she joined the local government elections campaign because she is concerned about development in her constituency and no one seems to be doing anything.
The microscopist said that if she is elected she would be working to ensure that works are carried out on the Lamaha Street Canal. Abraham explained that this canal drains off the areas in her constituency and on occasions she had observed that the water does not flow. She said with that she believes the canal needs to be cleaned at all times and would be making recommendations to have the canal dug as it is not deep enough. She also stated that she would address the cutting of grass. “People need to see green again, and I believe that the men operating the grass cutters cut the grass too low,” she said.
Abraham will also target the proper disposal of garbage and place bins at central points in all the communities. As it relates to sports and women’s empowerment she said that she would be encouraging women in her constituency to establish sports teams so that they can be active and have a recreational activity at the same time. Abraham also explained that she would be working in schools in her area to have health classes to educate the children on staying healthy.
She said she has started to campaign and persons have been very cooperative. She has no issue as it relates to voter education.
Abraham said she has been living the constituency for the past 17 years and she is well aware of the situations that need to be addressed. She also noted that even if the election does not work out in her favour she would still push for development to take place.
Lionel Jaikaran is contesting on the APNU+AFC coalition slate.
An optometrist by profession and President of the Guyana Cricket Club, Jaikaran said he is eager “to see the transformational clean-up campaign continue… [and] would like to continue to build on [that] foundation to restore our garden city to her former glory.”
He said that if elected to the council he would work for a leaner and cleaner City Hall, which he explained will ultimately contribute to the well-being of each and every citizen of Georgetown.
He said he would work to recreate, “times when communities stood shoulder to shoulder through thick and thin. If you were leaving town for a couple of days your neighbour kept an eye on your property as if it was their own.”
Other issued that he would address, he stated, include youth empowerment and recreation. He added that drainage and irrigation would be top priority for him.
Jaikaran said he has not started to campaign fully but would start this week. He explained that being a resident for almost 50 years in his constituency he is knowledgeable about the issues that need urgent attention. He urged voters to place their trust in the individual rather than generalising their view on a party.
Salesman and theatre personality Malcolm De Freitas is an independent candidate. He told Stabroek News that he has chosen to get involved in Local Government Elections since he finds it necessary. “I choose to do this because I have a responsibility of stewardship to my community and the nation. When I fought towards allowing this to happen,” he said, “and now that we have an opportunity for the individual to so do and if I didn’t embody that I would be negating and disallowing something that I fought for and worked towards achieving.”
De Freitas pointed out that the city council needs strong people who understand the process so that citizens can get the best of services.
If elected, he said, he would look at the regularity of the valuation of properties. He posited that he wants the valuation of properties to become more effective than it is at present. “Much of the problem is gathering resources, we need to gather the right resources for the job being done. That is necessary and that it is something we always need to do right. It has not been done effectively,” he said, adding that the law states that every five years an effective valuation of properties must be done and that law has been breached.
De Freitas further explained that he would be pushing for public spaces to be designated for persons to go out and be able to speak freely.
“We need to have spaces that allow for expressions of a political nature and any other nature… to allow persons to share their expression in society,” he said. He cited the stretch from the office of the Attorney General to Middle Street where political activist to Courtney Crum-Ewing had occupied while protesting. He stated that such areas need to be cordoned off and labelled as safety valves in society. Further, he added that he would work to provide opportunities for the upcoming generations to enjoy a clean environment. “I want to get back to where little boys can go and float paper boats in the drains and play with marbles and get into little fights and learn about life from playing in the field and allow them to learn about cooperation. We need to work to get back that,” he said while noting that these are necessary and he would work to achieving some of it if not all.
Even though he is a lone candidate, he said he is not intimidated by the other contestants who have the support of their political groups. He urged persons to follow the campaign as interesting things would happen.
De Freitas said he had been campaigning at a slow pace, getting his constituency aware that he is running for elections, but today he would kick off a very vigorous campaign.
Stabroek News made contact with Victor Sobers, the People Progressive Party/Civic candidate who asked to be contacted later. Efforts over two days to contact him proved futile.
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