REGION 10 continues to see new faces in its political arena, the latest one being sworn in on Friday as a Councillor of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC). Louisa De Souza is a representative of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and has replaced former Councillor Dereck Collins who has since migrated to pursue tertiary education.

While De Souza expressed her disappointment in the way she was sworn in, she said that she is however happy to be a representative of her community, Block 22 at the municipality.

“I’m still happy to be a Councillor in representing the people of my community, I am here to serve the people and to give my all to make things happen for the people of my community,” she said.

While sensing some division amongst councillors, De Souza said that she is ready to work in unison for the betterment of the town of Linden. She is encouraging councillors to put aside petty politicking and to focus on the interest of the people.

“I think it should not be about party but about the people’s interest, I am here to give my support to the people and will continue to aid in the needs of the community,” she said.
Following the passing of the Regional Councillor and PNCR Region 10 Chairman Sandra Adams in January, Melanie Samuels has replaced her at the RDC. She said that she is happy to serve the people of Region 10 with the help of her fellow councillors. She will be focusing on giving back to her community of Canvas City as well as the region. Her dream, she said, is to see the construction of a community centre.

“I want young people to interact and have educational sessions, classes, reading programmes and vocational skills (training),” she related. She will also be making representation for a sports park.

Meanwhile, the independent group Linden 2025 which contested the 2016 Local Government Election (LGE) and won one out of the 16 seats of the LMTC has made a public call for its chosen representative Ms Loma Moseley to resign, since it is believed that she is not acting in the best interest of the political group.

Member of the group, Samuel Wright, said that he would have consulted with another group member to put out a public statement calling for her resignation. Former Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland also told the Chronicle that Mr. Wright has written the Council on the matter as well.

The statement articulated that Ms Moseley was selected based on her youth and gender and with the understanding that she would represent the group’s vision and caucus regularly with the group. Wright, however, alleged that she has not been doing so. “Ms Moseley has publicly, within the Town Council, and various forums declared herself a loyal member of the PNCR and has refused to communicate or caucus with the Linden 2025, the group that she was supposed to represent.

Linden 2025 considers Ms Moseley’s posture as immoral and a betrayal of the trust of our constituents and the larger Linden community.” A request was made for her to resign and vacate the seat with immediate effect.

Moseley, however, refuted the claims made by Wright and told this publication that from the beginning she made it clear that she was a staunch supporter of the PNCR. and believes that she did not betray the group but was acting in the best interest of the people.
She said that Wright’s requests are unrealistic since he expects her not to caucus with her fellow councillors but to do so with him twice a month.

“I grew up with the mayor, with my fellow councillors, how can I not caucus? How can I not interact?” she questioned, adding that she is not a puppet but her own individual and therefore can make informed decisions on her own rather than to do everything she is told to do by Wright.

When it comes to voting for decisions made by the councillors, Moseley said that when such decisions are made in the best interest of the constituents, she sees it as ‘lending support to a friend’. She has been explaining to Wright, she said, that she is only one out of 15 and therefore it will be difficult for Linden 2025 vision to be materialised since APNU/AFC candidates have their own vision.

“How much of what Linden 2025 plans to do will go through when APNU would have had their own plans?” Moseley questioned. She also revealed that she will be seeking a lawyer as it relates to public posts on social media since she sees them as defaming her character. Moseley has since applied for three months leave of absence from the Council.