At tomorrow’s Local Government Elections, the residents of Linden have a variety of choices on both sections of the ballot.
In the municipality there are two political parties and two voluntary groups contesting for the eight available proportional representation seats.
The contestants are the ruling APNU+AFC Coalition and the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the groups are Linden 2025 and Linden Ambassadors for Progress.
Stabroek News was able to establish contact with three of these entities: the APNU+AFC, Linden 2025 and Linden Ambassadors for Progress.
Speaking on behalf of the Linden Ambassadors for Progress, Norris King who has been identified as his group’s Mayoral Candidate explained that the group has been formed especially for the purpose of local government elections.
“We are comprised of youthful leaders,” the 40-year-old said adding that the established parties have been referring to them as “young upstarts.”
King who is also contesting as a first-past-the-post candidate in Constituency 1: Bamia/Amelia’s Ward said that he misses the community he grew up in.
“The Linden I have known is no more. I want to see a Linden that is economically stable and I intend to play a part in creating a municipality that has economic substance and stability. These issues of Linden are my issues,” he said.
According to King his group is promoting alternative economics such as agriculture geared to exploit the comparative advantage provided by Linden’s sandy soil.
Asked if he feels threatened by his community’s traditional support of the People’s National Congress which now forms part of the ruling coalition, King said he is not worried. The people understand that it’s about returning to representative democracy.
“The PPP and coalition are fighting and arguing with each other but I am prepared to work with all those willing to work for the betterment of Linden. No one group will take all the votes the PR votes. It will be split and therefore there will need to be co-operation at the level of the council and Linden Ambassadors for Progress is willing to co-operate. We entered the race because we believe that having the same people running the community that have been doing so all the time is not good, they have become complacent and their vision has become skewed,” King said.
Linden Ambassadors for Progress is currently fielding three first-past-the-post candidates, they are King in constituency 1. Cleon Benjamin in constituency 4: Washer Pond to Siberian and Stockley Layne in constituency 8: One Mile (South) Block 22, Wisroc.
Also hoping to pull a significant portion of the votes cast in Linden tomorrow is the Linden 2025 voluntary group.
The group which is also fielding first-past-the-post candidates in all eight of the town’s constituencies is hoping to build a healthy community in which citizens at every stage of development feel supported and empowered by the way the community is managed and governed.
Smart growth
According to the group’s leader Samuel Wright his group is promoting a development strategy with four pillars: Smart Growth, Social Development, Environ-mental Stewardship and Governance.
Wright who describes himself as an engineer, environmental management and water resources specialist with strong interest in community-based development is strongly advocating for a comprehensive integrated water policy for Linden.
This policy is expected to address the issues of Water Supply, Pollution Prevention, Conservation, Ground and Surface Water, Erosion Control, Drainage/ irrigation, Flood Control, Recreation, Tourism and industrial Uses.
Once implemented this policy is expected to provide residents with a dependable water supply; clear flowing creeks; Swimming and Recreational Facilities; Water Parks; a Centre for Watershed Research; a Linden Water Council; Water-Based Tourism; Enhanced River Front; Water-Sector Focused Training /LTI and 500 jobs.
Also concerned about water supply and other associated infrastructure are the APNU+AFC candidates.
Eleze Benjamin who like Norris is contesting in constituency 1 is worried about the lack of a reliable supply of water in that constituency.
Speaking with Stabroek News, Benjamin, who is a member of the Interim Management Committee put in place by the Ministry of Communities in November last year, hopes to see her town become a largely self-sufficient municipality with better infrastructure.
“We now have very poor infrastructure with no lights in some areas and roads in poor conditions. Some of these roads have existed since Linden came into being yet have no names,” she said.
Lennox Gasper who is contesting for constituency two’s first-past-the-post seat stressed that councilors have a responsibility to the residents to ensure that they have access to basic services.
He noted that his constituency of Retrieve/Kara Kara needs a lot of infrastructural works and he is willing to advocate on behalf of the residents to see these works done.
“I have always been an advocate. Because of my humble beginnings I understand the struggles of the people and I have always been willing to work to reduce those struggles. I’m a people person who believes in fairness,” he said.
Gasper believes there is no real competition for him in his community. While he believes his competitors are good people he notes that they have not been as active in the community as he has been.
He also believes that the idea of an amicable relationship with the central government will sway voters to the coalition slate.
“We would not have to force the hand of the government. The government has shown it is interested in returning power to the people and they will support initiatives that will improve the lives of the citizens,” Gasper said.
