– Hughes says at launching of BIGA

By Rabindra Rooplall
NATIONAL parties have no place in Local Government Elections (LGE), says Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes, who contended that if any politician says to a citizen they are splitting the votes, “ask them which votes are you splitting since at the local level every single citizen is represented”.Hughes expressed these views during his feature address at the historic launch of the Bartica Independent Green Alliance (BIGA) party on Tuesday at TTS-CH5 Compound, 1st Avenue, Bartica.
BIGA will be running for Bartica’s nine constituencies and is only aiming to look at the interest of developing Bartica into a green town as proposed by President David Granger. The party has no plans to graduate to national politics.
Hughes said local parties aim to represent each and every citizen in the county and citizens should not be intimidated by loose talks from politicians about what Central Government would and would not do since that section of governance already has its mandate.
Stating that he is present at the launch as a citizen and not as a representative of any party, Hughes said “unless you control your own mind and you are truly free to think and act as you see fit, you are not independent, that doesn’t only apply nationally from the queen, but it applies at the local level because unless you act and think in your own best interest, then you will never be in control of your own destiny.”
He said each and every presentation made at the launch was a testimony towards what the people of Bartica truly stands for since it was intelligent, innovative, community-based and futuristic.
“I have heard the best exposition and articulation of a vision for a community here in Bartica and I have campaigned throughout this country…” he noted.
In offering his recommendation to complete the plans for Bartica, Hughes said that a museum should be set up for the rich history of the community which has experienced many sacrifices throughout its development.

CENTRAL INVESTMENT HUB
Noting that Bartica will not just be a town but a city, he said in 10 years the district has the potential to become the hub of Guyana for all investments. “You must have a vision for the future because you may be condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
Adding that the wealth that is extracted out of the region is second to none, the prominent attorney said it’s not just the gold, but it’s the stone, the aggregate and the forestry which can be used to build a city.
Underscoring that the town should be made attractive for international investments, Hughes said Bartica should have the best waterways, air transport, high speed ICT hubs, communication facilities and all other facilities needed for investors looking for a logical option.
In simplifying what LGE is about, Hughes said local development is a community’s plan and no outsider can represent that plan better than persons from the community.
“You must be committed at this level to ensure all the policies are carried in the interests of Bartica.”
He advised BIGA candidates that many of the larger parties or politicians may claim to have the answers for Barticians development, but the way to test that is to challenge these parties or officials to a public debate and let the people of Bartica decide who has the best and most realistic plan for their future.
“The days of political campaigns where cussing down and bad behaviour is tolerated is over, when you fought for the change you fought for a different day since you’re sick and tired of the low talk; sick and tired of people talking about your history and past. This is the time to say we are in control of the change, not you,” the attorney said to loud applause.
“We must realise that citizens that lead by example are the ones that should be followed,” he told the launch.