…proposes LGE debate among candidates

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) will be contesting only 38 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) for the 2018 Local Government Elections–approximately 15 LAAs less than it had originally bargained for, according to executive member Michael Leonard.

Leonard, at a news conference at the Centre for Change on Wednesday, told reporters that the AFC, despite a few challenges, remains confident of its chances at the Local Government Elections billed for Monday November 12.

“We are fielding more than 600 candidates with the majority being under the age of 40 in 38 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) in Guyana,” he informed reporters.

Leonard said the AFC had intended to contest more LAAs, but was faced with a number of issues. One such issue was that of bullyism experienced by candidates and nominators in some Local Authority Areas.

Weighing in on the issue, AFC Campaign Manager, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, said the alliance which forms a major part of the coalition government, had intended to contest in about 10 to 15 more LAAs. “It is not only that issue [bullyism]…but whatever it is, we are satisfied with where we are at,” Patterson told reporters.

The AFC kick-started its “Fit and Proppa!” Local Government Elections’ campaign last Saturday at the Centre for Change with over 300 candidates from Regions Three, Four, Five, Seven and 10 in attendance at the Centre for Change. Within the coming days, the AFC, Patterson said, will be intensifying its campaign, reaching out to residents in Regions One, Eight and Nine, among other regions.

Elections Debate
Meanwhile, the AFC campaign manager said as the country prepares for another historic Local Government Elections, the alliance is in support of election debates within the LAAs, particularly the larger ones such as the municipalities – Linden, New Amsterdam, Bartica, Rose Hall, Corriverton, Lethem, Mahdia, Anna Regina, and Georgetown.

“The Alliance For Change would most willingly coordinate a candidates’ debate, but we don’t want it to be seen as though we are trying to influence or stage against anyone, so if any civil society organisation is willing to host a debate among candidates on policies and positions in communities on behalf of the Alliance For Change I will accept that offer,” Patterson told reporters.

Two of the party’s young candidates told reporters that if elected, they would push for many of the shortcomings in their LAAs to be addressed.

Change must come!
Vickram Vieira, who hails from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), said it is time for change as he expressed disappointment with the way the nation’s youths are being treated.

Vieira contended that the young people are falling prey to alcohol and drug abuse, because of the lack of recreational activities in Region Three. “My community centre is in Goed Fortuin on the West Bank. We have produced the best volleyball team in the Caribbean; those guys don’t have a ground to go and practise today, because the previous administration abandoned…I am going to take the stand, and stand in the gap to fight for our young people so they could have a future; because when you allow young people to have their way and they don’t have nothing to get them involved, they become very idle-minded, but I want to create back this atmosphere of sports,” Vieira said.
In addition to rehabilitating the community centre, Vieira said if elected he would push for more street lights in Goed Fortuin and neighbouring communities and a high quality of tap water.

Byron Nobrega, in making his bid, questioned what the sitting Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, has done for Georgetown, but more so for Constituency 12 (Tucville-North Ruimveldt communities).

The lack of a proper drainage and irrigation system in the constituency continues to be a major problem particularly during the rainy season, Nobrega said. With the understanding that the Georgetown Mayor and Town Council is continuously strapped for cash, the candidate said he will be pushing for public/private partnerships to finance many of the community projects in the constituencies.

“I will be pursuing public/private partnerships with businesses, because there are a lot of businesses in the area; they are earning revenues from citizens within that area, so I will be advocating for more public/private partnerships with them to get the community back where it needs to be,” he explained. Nobrega said installation of street lights would also be one of the projects he hopes to execute, as well as the rehabilitation of the three community grounds in the area.

The AFC will be holding weekly press conferences, during which, many of its young candidates would be given the opportunity to share their plans for the various LAAs.