The governing APNU+AFC coalition is facing challenges from independents in two constituencies in the Mahaicony-Abary Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in races that will be keenly watched on March 18.
In the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) contest for Constituency 8 – Recess to Calcutta, APNU+AFC’s Tyrone Sylvester English will do battle with David Desmond Ross.
As for constituency 9 – Catherine to Adventure, APNU+AFC candidate Roston Gladwin Lindo is in a FPTP faceoff with Vibert Sealey.
Computer technician Lindo, 28, and Sealey, a pensioner, are both from Catherine, Mahaicony.
“I am running for Local Government Elections (LGE) mainly because I want to represent my community at the local level because I always had an interest in things like development of the community,” Lindo told Stabroek News on Wednesday.
“In my community, for me, from the time that I have been living here I’ve always been involved in these kinds of political things because my mother is a councillor so I would normally attend different meetings and so on around the community.”
On the other hand, Sealey, who has lived in the community for most of his life, even though he has travelled away multiple times, believes that since he has seen the community grow over the decades, he has enough experience to put systems in place for it to grow even more.
“What I intend to do is improve the standard of the community, the complete standard of work which I think we all require but because of this political misunderstanding, people feel that one party should do more than the other and I think if we get together we would be able to develop the area,” Sealy told Stabroek News, contending that as an independent candidate he will bridge the political division in the community so that everyone can work towards development of education and settling land disputes, which he identified as the major shortfalls.
“The plan is to establish a proper layout of this district, that is the lands both for agriculture and housing and to also see that people have the rightful ownership of the lands because most of them are in our fore parents’ names,” he added. Addressing education, which he pointed out to be a major factor in the current unemployment amongst youths in the country and the community, he said that he will work towards developing programmes where sports and education will be integrated to lessen the idling of young people on the road.
“… [They should] develop themselves in agriculture. We don’t have a library or evening classes, no skillful work or training facilities, no one to come and do little lectures and advise the youths,” he said, stating that those are areas that he will address if elected. He also pointed out the need for first aid if there is a fire or illness so persons would not have to be rushed to the hospital, which is far away.
Extra lands
He said there is also a discussion ongoing with persons who have extra lands for them to grant them to the community for usage.
Lindo, if elected, said he will be focusing on the development of the roads, streets, dams and drainage systems. “Since the elections last year there has been work started on these kinds of things like the streets and I mainly want to continue what is being done right now in order for the development of the community,” Lindo added.
Highlighting the high level of unemployment, Lindo said he will also focus on getting jobs for the skilled. “Firstly you will have to look at the persons in the community and know exactly what their skills are so they can fit and find jobs,” he said, adding that he will develop a system for those who have not acquired any skills to learn from the ones who have. “… So maybe use the same persons to train them regardless of what skills they have,” he said.
Addressing the mobilising of youth votes, Lindo suggested that the youths are not interested in LGE because they had never experienced it before. “I never participated or had to vote in an LGE since so to get them to vote I think I would first make them understand the importance of voting at LGE…[it] is your avenue to get your voice to be heard at the local level,” he said.
Sealey also highlighted the importance of making sure the youths understand the importance of LGE. “I do go around and I talk to people. I spoke to several youths during last week and this week and I told them, and because I am old I know, how important it is and I tried to relay that to them. I asked them what progress they would like to see and just get them involved. Get them involved in the discussion so they see that they have a role to play too,” Sealy added.
Research assistant
versus carpenter
English, 30, a research assistant at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) from Calcutta, and 35- year-old carpenter, Ross, also of Calcutta are preparing for the historic March 18 vote. The two candidates have been living in the area for all of their lives and grew up together, partaking in extracurricular activities and sports.
While English is running under the APNU+AFC banner, Ross is competing as an individual candidate and both are confident that they can win the seat.
“I’ve been working in my community for as long as I can remember as a youth advocate and working with different projects,” English told Stabroek News, proudly stating that he knows his community well enough as he has been living there all his life. “I think the community actually would’ve helped me to become what I am today in terms of my public speaking and so on. I would’ve learnt all of that at the community centre and being here at the GRDB would’ve given me an opportunity where I was able to lead people,” he added, stating that when it comes to leadership skills he is ready to lead his community.
Describing himself as a “no nonsense person,” English said he will be entering the race to look at the issues affecting the community and he will be able to stand up and “say look this might not work.”
Ross told Stabroek News that he decided to enter the race because he thinks his community has to be developed and he believes he is the right age and at a point where he can stand up and say certain things to the authorities.
Both men are focusing their agenda on developing their community’s infrastructure and youth employment.
Self-help
“I think self-help, self-community involvement is a big thing. I remember when I was really small my grandparents and parents used to help clean the drains, but that has diminished… and I am a firm believer that in order to convince people to help you, you need to show them you can use what you have,” English said.
He said one of his key focuses will be bridging the communities as he believes that is very important. “Only recently we were able to get a bridge across the Burma road and you would’ve seen the significance of that and how it made people’s lives easier,” he pointed out, stating that while the community centre has been flooded with a lot of young people, if he is to win the race, he wants to make it into an area that is more youth friendly so that the youths will be able to utilize it better.
He will focus heavily on ensuring that the community has all the necessities. “Street lights are one of the things I want to ensure is placed. There are the roads and streets that need to be improved,” he added.
“A community that looks good [is important], one of those things about the people is that they aren’t too upbeat as it relates to how the environment looks and I think that is very important because it sells an area,” he said, stating that he will get persons more involved and environmentally conscious.
“I will show them it is very, very important to care about the environment. Things like wasting water, especially in the El Nino drought, people need to be aware of. We want people to become more conscious of their environment,” he added. Ross also stated that his focus will be heavily on improving the roads. “The back streets and the roads are terrible, very terrible,” he said, adding that in addition to the street he wants to improve the community field as it is not up to standard.
“We need more activities too. More indoor and outdoor activities that the youths can get involved in. There is also the burial ground and school yard and street that need improvement,” he added. Ross also highlighted the need for there to be a garbage disposal site within the community and said he will work towards creating one so residents will cease dumping their refuse on the road side.
MARDS
English and Ross stated that a large part of their agenda will be focused on tackling the unemployment of youths and their involvement in the community.
“The MARDS rice mill used to employ a lot of youths but for some reason things maybe have gone haywire and they were closed down and persons were out of a job. They were forced to find jobs and other avenues elsewhere but I think that agriculture has a big role to play in the community,” Ross said, stating that he would work towards getting young people more involved in business.
“Myself and wife are into our own little business and one of the things is if your community don’t have certain services then people will have to go elsewhere. People will have to go to other communities,” he added, stating that if there are more businesses in the community then the residents will be able to access goods at a cheaper price and there will also be increased opportunities for the youths to access jobs.
Ross, however, stated that while there are currently not a lot of manufacturing companies in the area that can employ youths, he will let the youths play a more vital role. “I will give youths the opportunity to work in the community when there are projects and pay them,” he said.
Stating that he is aware of the reluctance of youths and even some of the older folks when it comes to coming out and voting in LGE, English said he will take on a “one-on-one” role to raise the figures. “I think the reluctance that I would’ve seen is more or less among the youths. I will get the young people to see how is it they are involved and how they have a say. They need to understand that LGE gives the community and the people the power. You have problems and you will have someone who can represent you,” he said, stating that education is the key.
He added that the older individuals already have the knowledge about LGE and he expects them to come out to vote. “Our goal is not to go out and have large rallies but more to target individuals and get them to actually understand and spread the word. These large rallies will only attract those who are interested but when you go out into the fields where the people are … then you’re able to get those who aren’t interested and maybe show them why it is important,” he said, adding that while he would not be able to visit every household, the idea is to target the areas where there are a lot of youths.
Ross also has similar plans. “People are saying that it’s not a big election but they have to know it’s for their own benefit. My manifesto is for the youths and developing the community and they need to understand that and see why it is important that they vote,” he added.
