–Linden councillors express mixed views on mayor’s re-election

By Vanessa Braithwaite

IN A MATTER of two days, councillors of the municipality of Linden will participate in a mayoral election which would determine the fate of the Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, who was elected into office in March 2016.While no Councillor has publicly indicated an intention to challenge Holland for the position of mayor, mixed views have been expressed as to whether or not he should be re-elected.

According to Chairman of the Communications Committee, Devin Sears, the Council is currently ‘putting things in place’ to guarantee a smooth electoral process. Though no one has announced an intention to run against Holland, this does not mean that Holland will be re-elected unopposed.

“It is possible that on that day nominations will be made, or we will reinforce or reinstate the same Mr. Carwyn Holland as mayor and Waneka Arindell as deputy,” said Sears.

Sears said he believes that, over the last eight months, the Council under the stewardship of Mayor Holland has worked tirelessly to ensure the municipality, though cash-strapped, functions effectively.

He also spoke of the numerous infighting and personality conflicts in the Council, but stressed that there were more positives than negatives.

“Whatever decision the Council makes, it will stand by it in the best interest of moving forward in 2017 and ultimately to the end of the tenure,” he said.

Councillor Deron John told this publication that he is of the belief that Mayor Holland should be re-elected, because he was not given a chance to serve a full term, and should be returned to finish the job.
This was echoed by Councillor Keeran Williams, who also believes that Holland should be given a fair chance, considering that the plethora of challenges that has presented itself would, in some way, have stymied some amount of progress.

“In this context, I think he tried with the available resources, and he has made genuine attempts to really build network and create an atmosphere where the Council can be more progressive and can actually make a greater impact in Linden. It takes time to really grow in leadership, and to really demonstrate the impact in leadership and qualities and characteristics; and I don’t think the time would have been enough for us to really see him perform at the optimum,” Williams affirmed.

Several administrative staff members also lauded the mayor for striving to develop a better relationship with the staff, and for making a salary increase possible for them. They unanimously agree that he should be re-elected into office. Staff member Joycelyn Smart said, “He is a very good mayor, who works in the interest of the workers.”

NOT ANOTHER TERM
Opposing these views was Councillor Fern McKoy, who is resolute that she would not be voting for the re-election of Mayor Holland, as she believes that he does not deserve another term.

According to Councillor McKoy, Holland’s leadership style is autocratic. “Definitely, he is a dictator. Since this man has been placed there, I don’t know where this power came from. He speaks to people in this way: like, ‘Well, I am your father and you have a right to listen to me,’ like he thinks he is mayor and he is the boss of the Council; and he is not, he is not the boss of the Council. So he has not been doing a good job since he has been placed there. If he had a better approach, things would have been different; and in my view, he doesn’t intend to learn, he doesn’t take advice,” she declared.

A similar response was expressed by Councillor Lenox Gasper, who for months has been publicly speaking out against the leadership style of the mayor. Gasper told Guyana Chronicle that he has no interest in contesting for the position of mayor, as he is comfortable representing his constituency as a councillor.

He, however, stressed that it is difficult to effectively represent his constituency, as he and his constituency are being marginalised for speaking out against the abuse of the law and the lawless manner in which the Council is operating.

Gasper categorically said he would not be voting for the re-election of Mayor Holland. He claims that, from the onset, Holland has been very aggressive in his leadership style, and he noted that the mayor had sent Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen on administrative leave.

“I petitioned the mayor that we should go about (things) by (observing) the law. My thing is (that) we want to see Linden rise. I don’t have a problem with who is PPP, PNC or APNU or AFC; at the local level, we have to work together with Lindeners,” Gasper said.

Gasper also spoke of the unilateral process taken by the mayor concerning the toll booth, and of other matters that were not dealt with in a democratic manner.

“He is definitely not a good leader. He is not a team person, he does not have a good relationship with the Linden Chamber of Commerce, he does not have a good relationship with the administrative staff within the Council. The mayor is power drunk, his ego is larger than life itself, and that I have a problem with,” said Gasper.

He noted that many promises made by the Council during the local government elections’ campaign period have not been realised because of the mayor’s attitude.

Gasper also revealed that he was deleted by the Mayor from the Council’s Whatsapp group for being vocal, among other things. And he said that if Mr. Holland is re-elected mayor, he would resign as councillor.

Another councilor, who opted for anonymity, alleges that councillors are being threatened by elements of the PNC to re-elect Holland as mayor.
As a result of this, the councillor said, a motion will be moved for the elections to be done by secret ballot, so as to remove fear and intimidation from the process.