– as key players in local groups being absorbed in run-up to LGEs

TEAM Legacy and the Bartica Independent Green Alliance (BIGA) were among civil groups that created quite a stir during the run-up to the 2016 Local Government Elections, but this time around their existence is in limbo as key players throw their support behind the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC).

BIGA, the brainchild of Holbert Knights, had challenged APNU+AFC and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for a spot on the Bartica Mayor and Town Council when the Local Government Elections were held in March 2016. In fact, the group managed to secure a seat on the 18-Member Council and had pledged to remain a driving force in Bartica.
However, today the future of the group is uncertain. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Knights disclosed that he resigned as chairman of Bartica Independent Green Alliance last December to fulfil his mandate as the Event Coordinator of Bartica Easter Regatta, 2018.

“The resignation, it was not as a result of any ill will,” Knights assured, noting that it would have been difficult for him to coordinate the Bartica Easter Regatta and function effectively as chairman of BIGA.

Added to that, following serious consideration, Knights, a former Region Seven chairman, said he has taken a decision to “throw” his support behind the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) of which he is a member.

Back in 2016, Knights was among those who expressed the view that local government should be run by people on the ground. On Tuesday, he said his belief has not changed.
“When you look at the people who are contesting on behalf of APNU, they are still local people, and I get the sense that based on what I heard from within the party itself, that there will be a lot more involvement of the local people on the ground in selecting the candidates for elections,” Knights explained.

IMPORTANT NOW
The former BIGA chairman said the Local Government Elections can influence the General and Regional Elections come 2020, and it is important for all members and supporters of the APNU+AFC to rally around the coalition at this time.

“The coalition needs to appear as, more than ever before, as one massive cohesive force, in ensuring that we maintain and extend our victory… whatever results obtained in November could very well influence persons’ thinking towards what might be obtained in 2020, and we don’t want our people, our supporters, our campaigners to be turned off, or to feel despondent or discouraged, so to avoid all of that, we need to ensure that there is a massive showing of unity, solidarity and strength come November,” he posited.
Juretha Fernandes, who sits on the Bartica Council as a BIGA councillor, will not be contesting the elections under that alliance. Fernandes told this newspaper that the AFC now has her full support. According to her, BIGA is dysfunctional and will not be contesting the 2018 Local Government Elections.

She is now the AFC deputy campaign director. Like Knights, Fernandes said her views have not changed. “I believe and I wholeheartedly push forward that local government is for local leadership and local individuals need to shine and push forward their ideas at a local government level. Is that the belief of the Alliance For Change? Yes it is,” she said.
The AFC deputy campaign director assured that those elected to serve as AFC councillors would be given a chance to make decisions in the interest of the people and not based on political directives.
TEAM Legacy 2016 First-Past-The-Post candidate Michael Leonard, will also be supporting the AFC come November. Leonard told the Guyana Chronicle that he is not certain whether Team Legacy would be contesting the Local Government Elections, but confirmed that he will be working with the AFC this time around.

GOOD EXPERIENCE

“The last time we had a good experience, especially being a brand new group trying to contest the elections but the support that we needed, the financial support, the infrastructural support just was a little tough to come by,” he explained, noting that independent groups do not have the required financial support to campaign effectively.
He said that he still believes that local government should be about local groups.
“I don’t think that the Alliance For Change is against that, because the Alliance For Change has said that even if you are an independent candidate, you can run with us,” Leonard said.

Team Legacy Malcolm Ferreira, though disclosing that he will not be seeking re-election within his Constituency #10 (Albouystown/Charlestown), said he has not given serious consideration about which group or party he would support when elections are held.
On popular social media platform – Facebook – Ferreira said: “After careful consideration and open discussions with my family, well-wishers and supporters, it is with a heavy heart, I announce to you that I will not be seeking re-election as an independent candidate in the Local Government Elections 2018.

“I was born and raised in Albouystown and I currently reside in Charlestown and l assure you, there is no bigger honour that I’ve experienced, than the one that was given to me by the residents of Constituency #10 to be their voice and representative at the local government level.”

After serving on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for two and a half years, Ferreira believes that someone else should be given the opportunity to represent Constituency #10.
“I am forever grateful to those who voted for me and gave me the opportunity of representing them and Constituency 10 at the Mayor and City Council,” he said.
Team Legacy had contested in constituencies six, nine, 10, 11, 12 and 14, in the municipality of Georgetown.