By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE APNU+AFC coalition has secured 15 out of the 16 seats on the Linden municipality, and now has secured the legal right to represent the residents of those constituencies.Independent Group Linden 2025 secured, by proportional representation, only one seat on the council; while the other independent party, which contested for three constituencies, the Ambassadors for Progress, unfortunately did not secure any seats, as did the People’s Progressive Party, which contested in all eight constituencies.

Reportedly less than one per cent of the voters participated in the Local Government Elections exercise in Linden.

Commenting on the victory, party leader Sandra Adams told this publication the exercise can be deemed a success after hard work, since Local Government Elections had not been held for 22 years.

She said this fact resulted in the candidates being additionally tasked with educating the electorate on the importance of this democratic renewal, and how it would benefit them, besides aggressively campaigning to persuade them to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition.

Adams believes that with a higher voter turnout, the party would have secured all 16 seats. She expressed disappointment at the less than one per cent voter turnout, despite all the time and effort invested in educational activities.

Asked what undertakings would be given priority after being sworn in, Adams revealed that the incoming councillors would be focusing on the organisational structure of the municipality, as several vacant positions need to be filled.

Besides, she revealed, the council would be examining ways to garner funds in an effort to advance development of the town.

TOLL BOOTH
“Almost immediately, we will be looking at getting back the toll booth (in operation) as a means of generating money, so that things would get done,” she affirmed. The toll booth will be situated at the Kara Kara turning point, and will collect tolls from lumber trucks and other vehicles plying the interior route.

The councillors who will be representing the eight constituencies are Leroy James, Lennox Casper, Eleze Hall, Wainwright Bethune, Colin Anderson, Keeran Williams, Fern McKoy and Neola Rogers.

The mayoral candidate for Independent Group Linden 2025, Samuel Wright, said that although he was disappointed at winning only one proportional representation seat, he still feels happy that the party secured one seat, against the PPP and Ambassadors for Progress securing nothing.

He disclosed that he doesn’t feel intimidated going into the Council against a majority of 15, and will do everything to make his voice heard. “We know the people before they were elected. We know what they are capable of, and we will try to get our voices heard, or to get policies on the table, as we want to see movement within the community,” he declared.

Wright said his party plans to contest the next Local Government Elections, and will be working on building a stronger base as its members have had 6 to 8 months to campaign for these elections.

Campaign manager Venton Osborne revealed that the party has not yet decided which candidate will represent the group on the council.

Ms Adams of the APNU+AFC coalition has also said the candidates have not yet decided among themselves who would be designated mayor, but that decision will be made after they have been sworn in.