Team Legacy reminds APNU-AFC; small get big with each step

Feb 16, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Team Legacy, from day one, has not been shy about expressing our disappointment at the national parties participating in Local Government Elections. Some have used the reasoning that the law permits the national parties to contest LGE, so by that measure, we should not complain. However, as we know, laws were written by man and in many cases are imperfect and are amended time and time again.
Perhaps an analogy most can relate to will help to bring some clarity regarding the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Imagine a scenario where some local residents want to play cricket, but they have no bats, balls or pitch to play. They appeal to the international cricketing greats – Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara for assistance.
The cricketers respond by providing a pitch and the necessary equipment. The locals are excited, they pick their teams and head unto the field to play. However, so do Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Lara.The locals protest. They say it will not be a fair game. They claim they will not be able to bowl out the international stars and ask them to sit out the game. The stars respond by saying, “but you asked to play and you are getting a chance to play” – and they would be correct. That is the letter of the law. The spirit of the law, however, which would seek to ensure a truly level playing field would see the international stars sitting out the game and allowing the locals to compete among themselves.
Mr. Editor, would you be able to bowl Brian Lara? The same Brian Lara that scored 400 and 501 not out against other professional cricketers? At the recent APNU+AFC LGE launch, one presenter attempted to disparage Team Legacy and other local groups saying, “don’t worry with them lil groups popping up like jumbie umbrella, they are like plimpla (thorns)” The six-party coalition should be reminded that many of its member parties started out like ‘jumbie umbrella’. The AFC popped up like ‘plimpla’ in 2006 and changed the course of Guyana’s political history.
A glimmer of hope came in the form of a Facebook post on Sunday, February 14 by AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes, where he stared – “I applaud and support the efforts of the independent citizens and groups who have had the courage, dedication and commitment to stand as independent candidates and parties in their communities and in the municipalities. The future of Guyana is better served by new independent minds working for a better community. Local Government belongs to the citizens of local communities and not to national political entities.”Perhaps someday we can get to that point where the playing field can truly be level and we are not paying lip service to local democracy.
Michael A Leonard
Team Legacy
Candidate for constituency 9
(Lodge/Meadow Brook Gardens)

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