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I am contesting the local government poll

Jan 12, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I perceive that the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) will be played out as organized chaos. It seems like after the 23 years void of LGE and the reformatting of the electoral districts, everybody is ignorant and confused as to the process of the upcoming elections.  The ignorance is so glaring that there are some in the race stating emphatically that they are running for Mayor. As I understand it, the Mayors are elected from among the elected counselors.  One does not and cannot run for Mayor.
If among those who are engrossed in the process there remain such blatant ignorance as to the process, imagine what eludes the minds of the electorate. With only two months left to the elections, there is yet to be any significant campaigning or sensitizing among the voting public. Except a candidate has significant funds or a huge volunteer squad, it will be virtually impossible to satisfactorily articulate and communicate one’s manifesto to his constituents.
I have decided to ask the voters in the 8th constituency (Stabroek – Wortmanville -Werk-en-Rust) to consider me as their representative. My challenge is, how do I in two months,  cover this constituency which extends from the drainage canal between South Road and Croal street thence along Chalmers place thence into Hadfield street at its northern extremity to Princess street at its southern extremity to Vlissengen road at its eastern extremity to the Demerara river at its western extremity?
I am wondering if there should not have been a longer time allotted to the campaigning process for such a significant election. The persons who will be putting themselves forward to represent their communities and spend taxpayers’ monies need to be vetted and their proposals need to be clarified and expanded upon. Anybody could promise anything. What will be needed are debates and interviews, with tough questions being asked. The voters in any and every constituency should be afforded the privilege of town hall meetings and question and answer segments involving their proposed representatives.
The intent of the LGE should not just be to fill positions. Guyana needs help and the best and brightest minds, with the most practical and comprehensive solutions should be the ones elected to serve. And the constituents should get a good chance to make their objective evaluations of the candidates.   After all, it is from among the elected counselors that Mayors will be chosen.
President Granger has begun to extend the townships across Guyana. This will mean that persons with insight and political fortitude will have to lead in the establishment of new policies and regulations, in their respective Townships. Their roles cannot be taken lightly.
Georgetown will be the Town to watch. Recently it has begun to look alive again. One would argue that it was dead due to narrow political vindictiveness and administrative malice. Both sides of the political spectrum will argue that the other side was to blame. It will be wise therefore, for the people of Georgetown to stay clear of electing anyone who can pivot the Town back to the former ‘dead’ days. Georgetown must elect Councilors and then a Mayor, who can attract support from whichever political party is governing the country.
It would be a travesty of anything decent or unconscionable to allow Georgetown to become a political football ever again. So as you go to the polls, think hard and long about what you want Guyana to become. This will depend largely upon whom you vote for. Of course this too will depend on what they say and don’t say. I just wish we had more time for vetting.
Pastor W. P. Jeffrey

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