Saying that he would seek to ensure that the needs of the city’s “human capital” is met, Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Wendell Jeffrey has launched a bid to become representative for the Stabroek-Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust constituency at the upcoming March 18 polls.
“It is quite in place to clean drains and parapets and to rebuild broken edifices. However, we must not overlook the human element of the community, which needs equal attention,” Jeffrey, who is running as an independent candidate, told a news conference on Thursday.
Jeffrey said he decided to run because he wishes to be involved in the decision-making on ways to improve the lives of everyone living within the Stabroek/Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust area.
“The Wortmanvile/ Werk-en-Rust constituency is riddled with high levels of unemployment, vagrancy, addicts, homelessness and criminal activity. It is also obvious that among the residents of this constituency we have a problem with literacy, especially among the youth… I am, therefore, pledging to table motions and lead in discussions that will seek to implement programmes that will address and arrest the situations which lend to these social scourges,” he added.
Jeffrey, who is a part of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, says that he has a vast amount knowledge from both local and international practices. He said that while he was living in the United States for a few years, he founded the Practical Christianity Ministries, which is an organisation that addresses the needs of ex-offenders and recovering addicts.
Jeffrey said if he is voted onto the City Council, his main priority, apart from cleaning up his city, is to bring to the council plans to look after the people, eradicate illiteracy, rehabilitate drug addicts, provide jobs and build homes for the homeless.
Jeffrey said that while many other candidates are basing their campaigns on cleaning up, there are only so many gutters that could be cleaned. However, he added that in collaboration with his constituency, he would address the needs of the people.
During the press conference, Jeffrey made clear that he is an independent candidate with no political biases. “I will not allow narrow, political, partisan agendas to dominate the programmes of the Mayor and City council. I will speak truth to power. I’m in this because I think I can help my constituency,” he pointed out, while also urging that voters elect candidates based on the issues and not based on likeability.
Jeffrey will be using a white dove as his symbol for the election. (Jonelle Fields)
