FOR LOCAL Government Elections (LGEs) three men with maturity, experience and leadership are seeking to be elected councillors of Georgetown constituency number one. This constituency covers Kingston, Thomas Lands, Non-Pareil, Cummingsburg, Alberttown and Queenstown. The team of professionals under the APNU+AFC banner includes: Phillip Smith, 49, of Fourth Street, Albertown, who is a quantity surveyor and construction auditor; Dr. Lionel Jaikaran, 49, of Parade Street, Kingston, an eye care specialist and President of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC); and there is Oswald Young of Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, who is involved in garment and design productions. He also teaches and facilitates courses in his field

Collectively, the three agreed that there was need for streetlights, proper drainage and the upgrading and revival of playgrounds for youths to develop various sporting skills. The group also plans to address the issue of waste disposal by the six hospitals that are in their constituency.

Presently, the team is hosting meetings with members of their constituency; one such was held yesterday at the DCC Ground. On Thursday, one will be held at Christ Church Secondary School and Saturday another will be held in Kingston. Persons will be made aware through the use of loud speakers in their respective areas.
In sharing his opinion on what type of councillor he would aspire to be, Phillip Smith said people needed to be more in the fields than in their offices if they expect to have any impact on the community and its development.

“We as candidates have already begun doing work. We have addressed several issues in our area and communities with the drainage systems and other issues. We are in touch with council (M&CC) on issues of security, street lights, drainage, sewage systems and youth and sports development in all areas,” Smith explained.

Being trained and qualified in the construction industry as a quantity surveyor, Smith said when any work was being done in the constituency, he would personally seek value for money. “When I inspect, it’s for quality, control and transparency. I’m also an acting director at the audit office and I understand from experience that transparency brings about value for money.”

He said the challenge is for members of the communities to remove their minds from strictly politics to one where the best choices are made for the community. “People look too much at a party rather than what the persons have to offer the community in the form of development, but if a party is supportive of a group, then that group has better access to politicians who can assist with complaints from a community,” Phillips noted.

Smith, who is also a Lions Club member, said issues surrounding waste disposal by the six hospitals in their constituency would also be addressed and if elected, monthly meetings in a town hall form will be held to listen to views from members of the community.

Optometrist Lionel Jaikaran said he has lived all his life in Kingston and he understood the core interests of his constituency. As a councillor, if elected, Dr Jaikaran said the team would be looking into the creation of a new abattoir, since the present one needed significant upgrading to be on par with standards expected from such a place which deals with livestock for the community’s consumption.

The father of three said recently the garbage-disposal system was enhanced tremendously, but there was room for improvement and there was need to educate the community on recycling and its benefits for an integrated community.

“I’m glad the government chose to outlaw styrofoam boxes which were a huge burden on the environment and garbage-disposal system,” the optometrist said.
Expressing his confidence in his managerial and leadership skills, the GCC President said based on his experience in various capacities, he had the potential to assist the development of the community he represented.

Garment and designer/producer, Oswald Young, said over the past 16 years he was involved in training youths in the art of garment construction and designing. He said having experience with school dropouts and single parents had exposed him to a wealth of information in dealing with members of society. He alluded to the fact that proper social services offered at the community level were greatly needed while addressing the problem of vagrancy.

The father of five, the youngest being 20 years of age, said the issue of security in the community also needed to be addressed and there was need for revival of the policing groups to offer security on the ground level for a safer neighbourhood. The Lions Club member also said playgrounds needed to be upgraded to facilitate a greater diversity of sports for the youths who have time on their hands.