Dear Editor,
Though somewhat disappointed I’m not in the least surprised that Mr Samuel Wright, leader of the Linden 2025 team at the just concluded local government elections was not even accorded a fleeting chance of being considered for Mayor of Linden. For me he would have been the best choice, but that has become a way with Linden folks. Like so many of our people in other parts of this land we seemed stuck in the past and shackled to a partisan tradition that has not been inspiring over the years. Are the local government elections which came on like a new fashion, having been a no show for over twenty years, going to bring about a new and positive change in the Linden Town Council? I’ll say pick any number and your guess is as good as mine.
To their credit, the Linden 2025’s valiant effort during their short existence running up to the elections earned them a single seat – the only contesting group to penetrate the guard of the dominant APNU+AFC coalition. Not to mention that they weren’t spared their political baptism in being branded PPP agents in disguise; that was the bogeyman which nailed them to the cross.
Of the meetings and TV shows that I saw during the campaign, the presentation of Mr Wright got my nod; it was the best, nicely packaged. It was sober, balanced, objective and well grounded. Delivering a measured presentation and touching on various issues affecting and hindering the forward movement of the town, one got the impression that the Linden born and bred candidate definitely knew where it’s at.
He knows the town like the back of his hand and genuinely craves and cares for its growth and upliftment. He reminisced, examined and explained issues, and addressed situations ‒ what was, what should have been, ought to be and could be achieved through a process and agenda which his team had in place to guide them in rescuing Linden. And it was somewhat refreshing to observe that the brother’s presentation did not indulge in political flattery, though it was easy to sense – and understandably so – a tone of sentimentality as he intoned biblically in a plea to President Granger “to let the people go.”
Wright, a contestant for the mayorship was concerned that Lindeners have a change in mentality and that they don’t remain stuck in a rut; thus he called on them to release themselves from a stagnant political past that has not done the town any good over a number of decades. He beseeched them to think beyond narrow party politics and see their town as having the potential to better itself. He was critical of the President calling on residents to vote for the people who are “connected” to those in positions of authority who can “make things happen.” This caused him to ask rhetorically: “What if those elected are not the ones connected? Will the government not assist?” Thus he cautioned the President to be more careful with the things he says, lest he send the wrong message. Also he was on target in being critical of the high profile APNU+AFC team led by the President, the Prime Minister, Attorney General, other ministers and full security detail who came in support of the APNU+AFC contestants. “Who is paying the cost for such activity?” he asked, pointing out that they were not on government business – a throwback to bad old times. One gesture Sam Wright ought to be commended for is the manner in which he reached out in good faith to the other contenders in the parties, especially the young ones whom he praised for having the courage to come forward. He was magnanimous in wishing them well, a thing that is unheard of in our political arena, and definitely not encouraged or practised, so the hegemony of the dominant pack is not threatened. I sincerely hope that Mr Wright and team, even with the one seat that they have won, will remain resolute in their outlook and do whatever they can in their struggle for a better Linden/Region 10. As the brother wisely noted during his delivery: “The rising tide does not raise one man’s boat, but all boats”.
En passant I do think it somewhat an affront to the community that folks who have been divorced from the community for lengthy periods possessed the temerity to suddenly sail back in with a vested interest in becoming the Boss of the Town. Is this what is called ambition or opportunism? But what the heck! Almost everyone is into the scheme of things for something. Our youngsters aren’t groom-ed to serve the community with passion or sincerity; it’s all self-serving because that’s the way they have been trained – harsh but true. Anyway Lindeners have demonstrated to all where their faith lies in giving 15 of the 16 councillors to the APNU+AFC. Thus APNU regained total control of the municipality, having the ‘right people’ who are connected to those who can move mountains, along with a truckload of promises. Let’s see how this is going to play out, for there is none to object except the lone voice of the Linden 2025 councillor, virtually a voice in the wilderness. Will her voice be respectfully considered or will it be just for the minutes to be recorded as a formality.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe