| Lindeners on Monday evening lined Republic Avenue and converged at the Linden-Georgetown bus park for the APNU/AFC Local Government Elections Rally.Beginning just before sundown, the event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd who listened with rapt attention as presenter after presenter promised a better community relationship.Among those making presentations were Minister of Communities Valerie Adams-Patterson, Minister Amna Ally, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Basil Williams and President David Granger.All exhorted Lindeners to go out and vote for APNU+ AFC come Friday. President Granger focused on the future and emphasized the importance of education, touting his three B’s programme – through which his government has already committed to providing boats , buses and bicycles – to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to attend school. This programme is to be extended to include books and breakfast.“What I see tonight is that we are going to create a Town Council in the capital of a powerful region that is bigger than Kuwait; that is bigger than Fiji. He also stressed that nobody in “this great Region “should be poor. He alluded to the strategic position of Linden.“We have to make Linden strong and the way that we are going to do it, is to plan the development of Linden as one of the major townships in this country.”President Granger (with white shirt) poses with other government officials and LGE candidatesA section of the crowd at the Linden-Georgetown bus park for the rallyPrime Minister Moses Nagamootoo alluded to the consensus by some that there is widespread apathy and disinterest amongst citizens about the LGE. He recalled that in history when the forefathers fought against the colonial masters, many died in the struggle to end slavery; they were constantly told that they were not ready for freedom.“So we have the same message today for the colonial enslavers that said that before you had emancipation in 1838 that you needed a period of apprenticeship–you had to be taught what freedom was, and to be prepared for it.”The Prime Minister said that he was not surprised that today there are those who have the same colonial mentality to keep our people down, would want to spread the message that there is disinterest. “But you are obviously ready. Are you ready?Minister of Communities Valerie Adams-Patterson reminded Lindeners of some of the changes that have taken place under the current administration, with certain communities such as Amelia’s Ward receiving water on a daily basis for the first time, after having to endure the hardship in the past of getting water twice per week.Adams-Patterson also pointed to the newly rehabilitated roads and general improvements in Linden over the past couple of months. She said that there are no house lots at present, because the former government did not leave any that “we could give to you. Some of you applied for house lots from the former Government and till now you can’t find it, because it was a bush lot.When I investigated we had 36 and we gave out all 36.”She added that $500 million has been allocated in the budget for housing development in Linden, and that very soon 2,000 house lots would be made available in Amelia’s Ward, because negotiations are presently in progress with the Lands and Surveys Commission concerning those lands.Adams- Patterson noted that on the Wismar shore at Burjag,Blank Jersey, there are also available lands which her Ministry is also presently negotiating for the transfer of those lands“The mandate of this Government is that when we give you a house lot it must carry roads, water and light – you mustn’t take a candle to find your house lot! So bear with us, very soon we will be coming to allocate.“Friday is just a few days away, so you can’t afford to sleep. Friday will be the first time in 23 years that local government election would be held.”APNU candidates for LGE are for the various constituencies, Elsie Benjamin (1) Lennox Jasper (2) Leroy James, Wainwright Bethune, Colin Anderson, Keron Williams, Fern McCoy, and Neola Rogers (Enid Joaquin) |
