A young flight officer with the Benschop for Mayor campaign is hoping to best a contractor who is running for the governing coalition and a teacher representing the PPP/C in constituency six of Georgetown at the March 18 Local Government Elections.
Constituency Six comprises Cummings Lodge North, Central & South, Pattensen/Turkeyen South.
The candidates in this First-Past-The Post (FPTP) vote are Lyndon Hilliman, 50, of 1460 Cummings Park, Cummings Lodge; Tamashwar Budhoo, of 110 Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown and Christopher Paul, 24, of 68 Fourth Street, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown.
Budhoo and Paul are also listed on the proportional representation (PR) list for their parties: the PPP/C and Benschop for Mayor respectively and therefore have a chance of getting onto the council even if they lost the FPTP vote. On the other hand, Hilliman only has the FPTP chance as he is not on the APNU+AFC proportional representation list.
Stabroek News spoke with Hilliman and Paul on their plans. Budhoo could not be contacted.
Both Hilliman and Paul said they are prepared to work to ensure that residents have access to better roads, proper garbage collection, recreational facilities and regularised house lots. Cutting crime is also high on their agenda
Hilliman, who is a carpenter and construction supervisor has been living in his constituency since 1995. He told Stabroek News that he decided to get involved in the local government elections after he saw the needs of his community. “Living in this community I have seen it grow, I have seen it being developed to what it is today but still a lot of works need to be done”, Hilliman said.
Hilliman added that he would like see the community equipped with decent footpath bridges. He said that he will look at the possibility of the bridges being funded by the government if elected.
Hilliman said he would also like to see public spaces well managed. He referenced the “C” Field, Sophia Ground which was fenced with zinc but due to lack of security and management, sheets have been lost. Hilliman said he would seek to ensure a management team or a groundsman who would be responsible for the management and caring of the ground. He contended that if the ground is well managed they would be able to host events which would generate revenue.
Once given the chance to be a councillor, he would like to see the community centre used to facilitate educational programmes during the afternoons and out-of-school periods. Hilliman said he would be looking to have persons in the constituency volunteer their time and service.
Hilliman said he would also work to have persons in the community employed. Quizzed on how this vision could become a reality, he said that he would look at the possibility of erecting a billboard where companies can post their vacancies. “If people have job openings for carpenters, security guards or when the police and the GDF (Guyana Defence Force) are having recruitment of persons”, they could post their notices, he said.
He would also look at the prospect of a twenty-four hour daycare centre which would cater to the needs of single parents who are working during the nights especially. Creating a twenty-four hour daycare facility would also enable employment for persons. He however said that this vision cannot materialise immediately but he would like to see it in the future.
Further, he said that he would like to see all areas of his constituency regularised. He noted that if the constituency is regularised they would be able to generate revenue from rates and taxes which would aid further in the development of the constituency.
According to Hilliman, he would look at the possibilities of implementing regular maintenance of drains. He noted that currently drains are filled with vegetation and with the zika virus threat, the environment needs to be clean and kept clean.
Hilliman added that he is ready to work with young people once they express an interest and passion for community development. He noted that through passionate young people, society can benefit from positive changes.
Hilliman posited that his knowledge in the construction field can be an asset to City Hall once given the opportunity.
Dire need
Meanwhile, Paul, a flight operations officer from Oxford aviation Inc., said he is involved in the long awaited elections since he sees a dire need for his constituency to be represented in City Hall and develop.
Paul told Stabroek News that he plans to work to ensure that his constituency has better facilities. “I have lived here all my life and I know what we need, give me a chance to bring better facilities to you and your family”, he said.
With crime being a major concern, for him, Paul said if given the opportunity he would seek to foster relationships between the community and police. He added that he would like to see security patrols in his constituency regularly to minimise crime. He explained that he would like to have persons volunteering with assistance from the police. He pointed out that he would look to have them equipped with tasers and batons.
If given the opportunity to serve as councillor, he said he would push to have roads and streets paved and rehabilitated so that residents can have a comfortable life.
He added that he would also look at the possibility of having a post office in his constituency. He said a post office is necessary especially for the seniors when they have to collect their pension. He noted that the closest post office is the city or at Plaisance.
Paul said that he would like to see better garbage disposal and collection in his constituency. He noted that at intervals workers would pick up the garbage and at other times they would not. Paul said that he would recommend that there be a schedule for collection.
He said that he would suggest that the canals and outfalls are cleaned at least every two months.
Paul believes that with young people getting involved in the local government elections, community work is an avenue for change and a positive influence on society.
He said that he would be excited to get into city hall as a young councillor and make his input in the development of his constituency.
“I am confident I can return that sense of owning our community once again. The choice is yours but let that choice be you, me, us, for a better Cummings Lodge”, he said.
