The March 18 local government elections in constituency four of Georgetown will see representatives from the two major parties battling with a candidate from a voluntary group and an individual and all are keen on more street lights for their communities.
Those contesting within constituency four which encompasses Lamaha Gardens, Newtown, Campbellville, Section K Campbellville and Bel Air Park are real estate agents Alfred Mentore and Louis Nestor, businessman Ashmeed Hassan and Leon Saul, a writer/producer.
The first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting gives one of the candidates a chance of winning a seat on the 30-person council if they garner the most votes. It puts the onus on them to get to know the residents in their communities and to publicise their plans.
For the hopefuls, clearing and maintenance of clogged up drains, ensuring communities have street lights, youth empowerment and promoting culture are some of the plans they would seek to implement after the long awaited elections.
Nestor is on both the FPTP and proportional representation (PR) lists for his voluntary group, A Nation Building Corp which means that even if he loses the FPTP race he potentially still has a chance of getting onto the council depending on how well the group does in the PR aspect. The other three candidates don’t have that option.
In an interview, Mentore, 51, who represents the APNU+AFC coalition, told Stabroek News that he decided to be a part of the local government elections because, “I feel I can make a difference for my constituency today and the various constituencies in Georgetown in particular.”
Mentore believes he can be asset to the city council based on the wide knowledge he has of leadership. Mentore has served as the President of the Guyana Real Estate/Realtors Association; the Demerara Cricket Club; Georgetown Cricket Association and as vice president of the Georgetown Cricket Club.
Burning issues for him are to have the clogged up and non-flowing drains cleared. He noted that patching of potholes and installing lights on streets and alleys are a part of his initial plans to make his constituency better.
If elected, in the midterm, he would look at the possibilities of establishing social and health centres. He said that he would work to ensure that health centres within the constituency are able deliver quality service.
“As I spend time as a councillor, if and when elected, I will look at how we can marry these ideas with the business community and the government. I am running as a candidate for the coalition government so I would be able to tap into it, so that communities would be able to have impact in nation building,” Mentore added.
Mentore who is a graduate in Banking and Finance from the University of Guyana, said he is willing to use his experience in this area to see transparency and accountability in City Hall.
He explained that he wants to start from the bottom up, rather than top down and work with the people in the community and understand what they really want. He noted that he would only be one vote and he would have to lobby with his colleagues to tackle pressing issues in communities.
He is also keen on youth empowerment. Mentore has been a sports personality and served as a mentor to young cricketers.
Mentore said the time has come for councillors to pass on their knowledge to the younger ones. “I believe there is a need for fresh ideas and fresh faces in the municipality so that [everyone] can make the necessary contributions,” he added.
Mentore said during his walkabouts he listened to concerns and realized numerous “things have been left dormant.” He said that he is saddened by that and is “full of zest and zeal to go and make representation for the communities.”
Creating spaces
For Nestor, 52, participating in local government elections means he has an opportunity to address issues such as flooding, improper maintenance of drains and alleys and creating spaces for children and elders to relax.
Nestor reminisced on the days when elders and youths would interact and the passing of knowledge would be done in the public arena such as cooking classes. Nestor said he wants to see the upgrading of facilities into multi-purpose centres where youths and elders can share their knowledge.
He added that he would like to see the days where communities raise children.
The real estate agent added that with multi-purpose centres, children would be able to readily access the internet to unwind after school. He noted too that the centres would be a place where advocacy for healthy lifestyles and information on issues can be shared.
The business administration graduate told Stabroek News that, he would look at the implementation of solar lighting on streets. He stated that it is one way to go if the city is going to become a green city.
Nestor said in order to have a clean and safe environment, maintenance is essential and once he is a councillor he would advocate for this.
He also said that he would work to ensure that communication between City Hall and residents is more effective. He pointed out that from his campaign activities residents expressed concern over limited consultation between them and City Hall. He said that with improved communication, City Hall would be able to make better decisions.
Nestor also signalled that he would work to catapult City Hall into the age of technology. He posited that it is time residents have crucial information on rates and taxes, permits and city hall’s plans at their fingertips. He pointed out that he would recommend that City Hall’s information be available online.
He lamented that many blue-collar businesses are operating without any form of permit. He said that there are scrap iron dealers and mechanic shops within the city that are operating and committing violations every day.
Nestor also said that he would like to see the city engage in recycling and once given the opportunity to become councillor he would make the recommendation.
Nestor who is a candidate for A Nation Building Corp explained that before he got involved with the voluntary group he had already submitted his name as an individual to the elections body and it was too late to make the necessary changes.
Transformed
For Hassan being a part of local government elections is being able to develop his constituency. Hassan who is campaigning on behalf of the PPP/C, lamented that after living in his constituency for the past two decades he has seen the community transformed from a residential area to a commercial/ residential one. He pointed out that with the change challenges were created but there has been limited attention to these
Some of the biggest problems the constituency faces, Hassan said, include speeding, music carts and vehicles with loud music parking at shops for long hours, limited patrolling by police and the dumping of garbage on unoccupied land.
“Drains are sometimes cleaned but the water doesn’t flow and this is because under the bridges are left clogged and blocked up,” he said, stating that if given the opportunity to serve as councillor he would recommend that there be steady maintenance of the drains with inspections to ensure that the work is carried out properly.
Hassan also hopes that if successful at the polls he would be able to make recommendations to have speedbumps installed on the streets and for a more visible presence of city police and members of the police force.
He also stated that he would recommend that city hall provide a subvention to communities for the installation of street lights. He noted that he would also ask members of the community to contribute to the purchasing of street lights and with that every street can be lit. Regular garbage collection to eradicate illegal dumpsites is also a priority for him.
He would also work to have potholes fixed. What he also seeks is a safe constituency where parents and their children feel safe on the streets.
The aspiring councillor said he would work with the city council to create a schedule for works in the different constituencies based on urgent needs. “We have 15 constituencies and some would need help more than some so we must say which is priority. We must be able to give to all constituencies attention and scheduled works would be a way,” to do so.
Hassan said that he is well aware of his community’s needs and if given the opportunity he would work tirelessly to address the issues. Hassan said he has been involved in community work and one of the projects he was involved in was the establishment of a community ground in Bel Air Park.
Fostering cultures
Saul, a writer and producer believes he can make an impact at City Hall by promoting and fostering cultures. He noted by doing so he would be able to build neighbourhoods and communities that are more closely knitted.
Saul believes that this can only happen through cultural activities. He stated if he is given the opportunity to represent his constituency he would work to promote cultural activities and recreational spaces. He said with such activities and facilities in communities, residents would be able to create relationships with each other.
“When you have close communities you are able to establish a sense of security,” he explained.
He stated that in order for such to occur, facilities must be established to host outreaches for the residents of communities to engage.
Other plans if elected to office are to ensure there are street lights, better delivery of service from city hall to residents, creation of green spaces and ensuring that recreational facilities are equipped. He said that tall bushes and stagnant waters must be a thing of the past and once given the opportunity to be a councillor he is sure he can make that happen.
The writer/producer stated that he would like to see differentiated rates for property. He noted that businesses must not pay the same rates as a resident would.
Saul added that he would work to ensure there is creditable and responsible leadership within city hall.
