LGE Independent Party…Fixing “forgotten” communities – Team Legacy

Mar 17, 2016 News

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As the Local Government Election (LGE) draws near, the tension has never been higher.

Guyanese both local and abroad, over the past weeks, have witnessed some of the sacrifices and determination of some of these candidates.
The two-decade long absence of the LGE has somewhat been seen as a muzzle but come Friday, history will be made, as the concealed voices of thousands will return.
As for our candidates – the elected ones of course, the ball will be tossed into their courts.
The feature of allowing independent candidates and parties to contest in these elections has somewhat brought smiles to the faces of many who have decided to step into the arena.
For one party, Team Legacy, they would not “sit by” any longer. They have decided to answer the call and be a part of history. What they bring to the table is the promise to fix the “forgotten” communities which they claim have been neglected by the authorities since “forever”.
Team Legacy’s own, Saiku Andrews, will be contesting for Councillorship in Constituency #14, South Ruimveldt Park/Ruimveldt Industrial Estate while his fellow group mate, Kelvin Bovell, will be contesting for Constituency#11, East La Penitence/Riverview.
“I have been living in the constituency for the 15 years (and) I don’t believe that I should sit any longer. I am tired; I am constantly frustrated by these issues affecting my community. My community has been forgotten; it needs help; it needs leadership and since the opportunity presented itself allowing independent candidates to contest, I took it,” Andrews said in a recent interview.
Asked why he did not align himself with any political party, he replied, “Because, I don’t believe that political parties over the years have been able to work together to address some of the issues affecting persons in the communities. These issues we’re talking about flooding, security, infrastructure, lack of jobs.

“They (political parties) were unable to sit at City Hall and hammer out partnerships that would allow them to solve these issues. They are basically fighting back and forth because one has to ensure that the other doesn’t shine because it has a direct bearing on general elections.”
Meanwhile, Kelvin Bovell said that he became a contestant in the LGEs to aid in the eradication of the “negative cloud” that has been hanging over his constituency.
“I have been living in my constituency for over 25 years and when one hears about this constituency, the first thing that comes to mind is crime. So I am taking this opportunity to bring back some level of respect to my constituency.
“I just want those communities to have basic services that we have been deprived of forever, such as, garbage collection, basic social and security services.”
Bovell continued that Team Legacy’s main platform is supported by a five-pillar initiative which is community investments; youth transformation; security; environment and health; and the improved distribution and delivery of services.
“Security and health are the most major issues in these communities and what we proposed as a team is to revitalise and create the neighbourhood policing group,” Bovell said.
Adding his “two cents” also was Andrews, “We would also like to see two additional police outposts in South (Ruimveldt) to help curb the crime situation”.
Bovell also highlighted the party’s intention to “bring back” community centres in the area where youths can go and have basic services, where mothers can go and have after-care services for their children.
Asked what some of the preparations were leading up to the LGE, Andrews and Bovell both stated that the group has set various initiatives in place to reach out to the constituents such as door to door visits, the sharing of pamphlets and meetings.
Since ranks of the Disciplined Forces took to their respective polling stations to cast their ballots last week, there have been various reports in other sections of the media pertaining to the “level of voter turnout”, where some parties and candidates have called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to double their voter education.
Similar calls have also been made to the media.
Andrews was asked if he thought that the authorities were doing enough to educate the populace on LGE, he answered. “I wouldn’t say that they’re not doing enough. I think what they’re doing is not effective. Yes, they may be doing a lot and yes, they may be spending millions but who sees it?
“Why should I, as an independent candidate still have to go two days before the elections and tell persons how they got to vote? Why do I have to explain to electors these basic things at this eleventh hour?”
Kelvin Bovell pointed out that there was a “mix-up” where he and his group members conducted a series of campaigns in an area, only to discover that the area did not belong to his constituency.
“We are not in this for power, we want to see our children happy, and we want our communities to be clean and safe. Team Legacy will fix these communities and we will fix them together.”

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