Media reports about Subryanville meeting with Local Government candidates

On Thursday, 10 March, 2016 - residents of Subryanville hosted an interaction with candidates from Constituency No2 in the 2016 Local Government Elections. These are two media reports.

From Guyana Chronicle 12 March, 2016

((L-R) APNU+AFC candidate Carlyle Goring; Team Benschop’s candidate Jameel Rasul; Healing the Nation Theocracy Party’s (HTNTP’s) candidate Alfred Park; and independent candidate Albert Cromwell

Kitty-Subryanville LGE candidates square-off — drainage, infrastructural development among priority issues

March 12, 2016

By Ravin Singh
KNOWN to be a constituency that is relatively quiet and not prone to many social ills, Subryanville and sections of Kitty are really still far from fitting this description.And with the highly anticipated Local Government Elections quickly approaching, running candidates have laid out their plans for the constituency, should they be elected to serve as councillors.
Perhaps one of the more pressing issues in the area is that of flooding, as was expressed by several residents. And according to Team Benschop’s candidate, Jameel Rasul, the drainage situation has been an “eyesore” not only for that constituency, but for the entire Georgetown. As such, his plan, and that of his group, is to tackle this issue immediately, since it adversely affects the lives of residents of all walks of life.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Albert Cromwell, an independent candidate, who noted that his plan was to bring back Kitty and Subryanville to the place it had been 30 years ago.
“For the past twenty-something years, the place has deteriorated, and I would like to see proper infrastructure in place to deal with this issue,” he told the residents.
In that area, too, City Hall has been sourcing $20,000 per annum for every house lot. And while this money is seemingly not being expended in a way that would benefit the constituency, Cromwell suggested that if he is elected, he would ensure proper representation was made for the council to address drainage in the area.
Agreeing with Cromwell that there was a “systemic deterioration” of Subryanville was APNU+AFC’s candidate Carlyle Goring. He was, however, convinced that this was a result of the country being starved of Local Government Elections for over two decades.
As it relates to the rates and taxes paid by residents, Goring, firm in tone, recommended that once the residents pay their taxes and the council does not deliver, they (the council) should be given the “Gideon boot”, which translates to them being kicked out of office. But he went on further to suggest that this $20,000 per lot is inadequate, since it works out to approximately $1600 a month.
However, he did not suggest an increase in this amount.
Reserved in his comment, Rasul refused to make promises to the residents in this regard. He noted that he did not want to make grandstanding statements and fail to deliver. He told the gathering, though, that if he were elected, those complaints would be examined in their entirety and solutions would be forthcoming.
Then it was the issue of zoning code violation, which all four candidates acknowledged as a major problem. The APNU+AFC candidate first suggested that residents sign a petition against this violation, but one resident pointed out that this had already been done, but it bore no fruit.
And having appreciated this fact, Goring hinted at the shortcomings in the judicial system to immediately act on these issues.
LOBBY
Continuing on the said topic though, the coalition’s candidate noted that what could be done in the short term was to lobby for some moderation in the noise level emerging from bars and local shops.
Cromwell weighed in, too, offering that for the past twenty-plus years, “lawlessness went on” and the deviation in adhering to zoning codes has tremendously affected the lives of people in a negative way. He explained that apart from loud music, improper solid waste disposal by those commercial enterprises had directly and indirectly affected residents living in close proximity. And Cromwell was of the view that should he be elected to serve as councillor, he would “stomp that out”, since he is a “no-nonsense man.”
“Commercial areas are supposed to be commercial areas, and residential areas are supposed to be residential areas,” he added.
The Team Benschop candidate also suggested there should be consultation with residents if a business was being opened. “These business people should speak to, and listen to, residents; and address their concerns that way. You cannot just open a business and have it affecting people in a negative way,” he said, adding that it was an issue which needed to be examined at the level of council.
Additionally, all candidates acknowledged the need for a community ground, which they agreed played an integral role in the development of any community through participation in health and social activities.
Meanwhile, Cromwell sought to
highlight that he had already made some “headway” in addressing some concerns of the residents since the change in government last year. Though he did not specifically say what these were, he noted that inputs, through him, were made to current Mayor Hamilton Green and Town Clerk Royston King. “I’m working even before I’m elected” he said.
Goring, running with the support of the coalition Government under his belt, promised the residents to introduce bus stops at strategic points in the community, to benefit senior citizens; install street lights, and undertake regular garbage collection.
And given that he is the coalition’s candidate, Goring sees himself as being in a more advantageous position, since it would be easier for him to network with the relevant ministers to address concerns.


From Stabroek News 12 March, 2016 

Candidates promise Subryanville residents updated zoning laws

By Staff Writer On March 12, 2016 @ 2:21 am In Local News

Updating the zoning laws were among the commitments made by four of the five candidates, who met residents of Subryanville on Thursday to discuss their plans for the constituency if elected at next Friday’s polls.
Independent candidate Albert ‘Bulldog’ Cromwell, who is a kitchen assistant, Carlyle Goring, a court marshal, who is a candidate for APNU+AFC, herbalist Alfred Park, of the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party, and Jameel Rasul, a businessman representing Team Benschop for Mayor, engaged several members of Constituency 2 (Kitty North, Central and South and Subryanville) at the Diocesan Youth Centre, Third Avenue and Church Road, Subryanville.

Albert Cromwell

Carlyle Goring

The other candidate, Patricia Ferguson, of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, was a no-show. Damian Fernandes, one of the organisers of Thursday’s meeting, explained that though Ferguson was invited via several means, she had not responded to any of the invitations. Ferguson had also refused to be interviewed for Stabroek News’ feature of this constituency’s candidates.
The first speaker of the evening, Cromwell, told the audience that he has a passion for his constituency. He asked to be judged on his work ethic and not one any unkind reports that may be in the public as the truth would soon come to the fore.
Cromwell is presently on $60,000 bail after being charged with the unlawful wounding of a member of the Team Benschop for Mayor Campaign. He has denied the charge.
In his presentation, Cromwell stressed the influence he presently has on the youths in his community and promised to work to guarantee Kitty/Subryanville 24-hour health services, an inclusive policing group and a Kitty Market with an administrative office for the community.
“I’m a no nonsense kind of man. Real thing. And the youths in my community know it; they call me Uncle Bull. Lemme give you ghetto talk: If you looking for somebody to work for you, vote for me,” Cromwell declared.

Jameel Rasul

Alfred Park

The coalition candidate, Goring, in presenting his plans, stressed the relationship he would have with the central government. Bemoaning what he termed the “systematic deterioration” of residential communities brought about by inadequate implementation of zoning laws, Goring said he would not be a hypocrite. “My party is in government. It is easy for me to network with the minister. I don’t want to be a hypocrite; I can’t cuss the PPP then allow a party I struggle for to commit the same atrocities on the citizens. We will serve our citizens,” he said.
For Park, it is the health of the community that is most important. He told the audience that he was dismayed at the quality of water the community was receiving.
“You turn on the pipe and the water brown as the Blacka (Lamaha Canal),” he said. He stressed that comprehensive knowledge of the power of herbs, particularly marijuana, was essential for a healthy life.
Rasul said the constituency’s development will not exist in isolation but will be achieved as part of a cohesive plan by his group to improve the infrastructure and services in the entire city.
All the candidates expressed dismay at the condition of the Farnum Playground in Subryanville, a space which apparently held special memories for each of them.
The candidates were filled with big ideas and creative ways of financing them.
Goring, who marketed himself as “fresh, young blood with ideas,” told those gathered that persons may be asked to pay to park in the city. “The same way it’s done in London,” he said.
Rasul explained that the money is there since the government allocates millions to City Hall and it collects even more millions through rates.
“Most of the money is going to pay salaries,” he said. He added that his group will be creating “safe parking lots,” which residents will be charged to use.
Cromwell and Park advocated the creation of cottage industries. For Park, the women of Kitty/Subryanville could start making juices for sale, while Cromwell would have the unemployed youths of the community use the “plentiful wood” to create furniture. For him, the women would contribute by sewing pillowcases and sheets.
Candidates were also asked about how they would address the issue of zoning as several business, which have opened in the area, continue to disrupt the community with loud music and the raucous behaviour of patrons.
Each candidate has promised to advocate on behalf of the citizens for zoning laws to be updated and properly implemented.

From Guyana Chronicle 14 March, 2016

Home > NEWS > LGE candidate offers eating advice

Alfred Park

LGE candidate offers eating advice

March 14, 2016

By Ravin Singh
ALFRED Park, a candidate in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), believes that Guyanese need to connect with nature, and children must learn to eat like the cows, sheep and horses.Park, a herbalist, made this disclosure last week during a LGE meeting between running candidates and residents of Constituency Two (Kitty North, Central and South Subryanville). He is contesting for a seat on the City Council under the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP).
Park says the school system in Guyana needs to be re-examined, given that children do not learn about plants, which he believes is necessary at all levels. Should he be elected to serve on the City Council, Park has committed to restructuring the school curriculum to facilitate plant-related studies.
“Teach them about plant and grass,” he said. “Once I’m elected, I’ll put for children to be taught about the green, so when they leave school, they will be scientists of the earth. We need to connect with nature,” he admonished.
The responsibility for policy adjustments in the education sector currently lies with the Minister of Education. However, for Park, it is not only learning and appreciating nature that matters; he is of the view that children “need to eat like the cows, sheep and horses”, which is “the natural way to go”.
TOXIC EATING
And the current practice of eating meat, which he deems “toxic”, must be abolished, so people can leant about the “proper things”, and not be brainwashed.
He disclosed that he intends to push for the decriminalisation of marijuana, since “it is the only herb that could heal everything”.
Moving away from his area of expertise, which is plants, Park unveiled his other plans for the constituency, which include the installation of more ‘sleeping police’, or speedbumps, in the area to combat reckless driving. This would be funded through the $20,000 rates and taxes paid per lot to City Hall annually. He also intends to develop the community centre, which he said could facilitate recreational activities for people of all ages in the constituency.
As it relates to neighbours utilising each other’s parapets to park, while theirs is barricaded, according to one resident, the HTNTP candidate responded in a soft tone that one must learn to love one’s neighbour as oneself.
At the same time, he noted that councillors have a responsibility to speak to the residents to iron out issues.
And with several residents raising concerns over zoning code violations, which have led to bars being erected in residential areas, Park noted that there is a law about loud noise and zoning codes, and it is just a matter of the law not being enforced. Given this situation, he committed to ensuring that the law is enforced, once he is elected.
“People want to rest when they come home from work; so we need to listen and give respect to the people who live in those areas. And I will ensure that the issue of loud music is addressed,” he promised.