…but smaller groups undaunted

By Svetlana Marshall
SUPPORTERS of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) turned out in their numbers for Nomination Day, but small political parties, voluntary groups and individual candidates said they do not feel threatened, maintaining that the masses will vote in their favour come March 18.

In the Municipality of Georgetown, outside of the Edward Luckhoo Building, Team Benschop for Mayor appeared unmoved by the presence of APNU+AFC and the PPP who had engaged in a fierce battle of chants.
Minutes before handing in his List of Candidates to GECOM, Mark Benschop, who is running for Mayor, said his strong and competent team is “ready to take over City Hall,” stating clearly that Team Benschop is not threatened by the major political groupings.
“We are never threatened because we believe that it is up to the residents of Georgetown to decide on who will take over the management of City Hall. And we believe that the larger parties are the ones to be threatened by the residents of this city,” Benschop told reporters.
He added, “What we believe is that the residents of Georgetown will kiss the major parties goodbye. We believe that the residents of Georgetown want a change, we also believe that the residents of Georgetown believe in a different style of management, something that is independent from Central Government.”

Under his stewardship, he said the revenues garnered from rates and taxes including property taxes will be properly managed, and will be used to finance developmental projects within the city of Georgetown with the support of Central Government.
Quizzed on whether his political group has intentions of increasing the rates and taxes in Georgetown, Benschop, in response, said the people of Georgetown have suffered enough.
“I believe that the residents of Georgetown would have suffered enough and to go in there to say that we are going to raise taxes, it is certainly not on our agenda at this point in time.”
In manning, the affairs of the Council, Benschop said there will be no room for antagonism, reiterating that Team Benschop will put the interest of the people first.
Team Legacy – another voluntary group that submitted its List of Candidates on Tuesday – will be contesting in six constituencies: six, nine, 10, 11, 12 and14, in the Municipality of Georgetown.
One of its candidates, renowned Radio Broadcaster Malcolm Ferreira, told the press that though the group is starting small it can evolve into something that is greater than the municipality.
“One one dutty build dam,” he told reporters, noting that though Team Legacy is contesting in only six constituencies, this time around, there is room for the group to grow.
If elected into Council, Ferreira said Team Legacy will give residents of their constituencies opportunities to have their say, noting that in the past, residents had been represented by councillors who do not even reside in their communities.
Youth for Local Government was also present at the Edward Luckhoo Building to submit its List of Candidates to Elections Commission. The group will be contesting in both the Proportional Representation (PR) and First-Past-The-Post components of the Local Government Elections.
“We are contesting throughout Georgetown but we have five persons who are running as individuals within their constituencies,” Clayon Halley, the founder told the Guyana Chronicle.
President of Healing The National Theocracy Party (HTNTP) Alfred Park expressed disappointment that the larger political parties are contesting the Local Government Elections.
“These big parties…they should not even be here, because this is for local people…the smaller people should come out and do their thing not the big people, who are already in power, they are coming again to get more power,” Park said. According to him, these major parties will dominate the elections, leaving no room for the smaller groups.
But despite these feelings, Ras Leon Saul, one of its candidates, said the party despite the current challenges would be able to make a difference. “This is the time for independence and our chances are very high,” he posited.
According to Saul, HTNTP has much to offer in the area of management, noting too that once elected, quality service will be offered with emphasis likely to be placed on recycling. Saul will be contesting in Constituency 4, while Park will be contesting in Constituency 2.
Individual Candidate Juliet Julian, who will be contesting Constituency 14 in the First-Past-the-Post component of the elections, believes that she can make a difference.
She told the Guyana Chronicle that the “big parties” should have stepped aside. “We think that the major parties should step aside and just let the individuals within the community contest the local elections. But yes, I stand a great chance, and I am positive about that.”
But Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) who submitted the APNU List of Candidates for the Municipality of Georgetown, brushed aside these concerns, telling the press that “we have a wonderful grouping of people, a group of people of all races, all colours, young old and in between.”
While admitting that young leaders are needed, Clarke said experienced leaders are also required to move the Municipality of Georgetown forward. “If you forget the past you will have to relive it, you will have to relive the past if you forget. And there are people who will have to bring experience to bear in the new council. You call it old, but I am calling them experienced councillors.”
Clarke maintained that the experienced leaders will guide the youth. Nevertheless, he said the APNU+AFC coalition is ready for Local Government Elections. “We are looking forward to this fight that we are facing now, it will be a great fight, and we will win it hands down!”
At the Providence Stadium, the Guyana Chronicle caught up with Martin Massiah, one of the candidates for the Guyana National Building Corps, who explained that the voluntary group is made up of a mixture of people, both young and old. He will be contesting in constituency four.
Guyana Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield on Tuesday was seen by this newspaper conducting checks at the various offices across Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara. According to him, Nomination Day was smoothly executed.