From early results last night from the Meadow Bank-Agricola area, 90-year-old James Samuels looks set for a seat on the Georgetown City Council after yesterday’s Local Government Elections.
From eight Statements of Poll counted by Stabroek News, Samuels was handsomely defeating his two constituency 15 rivals Philip Inshanally, representing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic and Georgina Lewis for Benschop for Mayor.
In the First-Past-The –Post voting, Samuels had gathered 694 votes compared to Lewis’s 154 and Inshanally’s 135.
Samuels, a former tele-communications worker, had said in an interview with Stabroek News last week he would push to make his constituency the hub of computer technicians and telecommunications. He said that such a programme would create opportunities for employment. Samuels said he has already written the director of technical education seeking permission to establish classes.
He added that he would advocate for his constituency to impose heavy fines to curb the culture of littering and would also seek to have drains cleaned to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
He further stated that he would bring City Hall’s attention to the Agricola cemetery which he describes as a section of the Amazon rainforest. He said that the cemetery is an eyesore and it is time that it be cleaned and spruced up.
Samuels stated that he would also advocate to have his community be serviced with street lights and treated water. “Sometimes the water pressure is low and it is very red… we need water that don’t stain our homes’ bathrooms and utensils”, he said. When asked about funding for his proposed line-up of projects he said that he would look at the possibilities of City Hall being able to fund some and the government through the different ministries. However, he said that he would ask residents to help fund the street lights projects and help pay the bills.
Samuels added that he would also seek to address the rates and taxes paid by owners of properties. “This is probably the only city in the Caribbean where the taxes are so low… we can’t have that any more”, he said pointing out that he would seek discussion in City Hall to review the taxes.
He said that he is going to also recommend that there be high quality surveillance cameras to help stop crime. “We have some cameras but when you go to look at the face you can’t see anything… so we need cameras that are able to capture quality images”, the aspiring councillor said.
