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alexk
Guest
A boxing coach, communications officer, photographer, HSE officer, housewife and a guidance officer are the candidates contesting the Barataria and Belmont East electoral districts in the July 16 by-election.
For the Belmont East district, the United National Congress (UNC) has announced Lianna Babb-Gonzales, the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate is Nicole Young while the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) has offered Felicia Holder.
Contesting the Barataria district for the UNC is Sharon Maraj-Dharam, PNM’s Kimberly Small while Christoph Samlal is PEP’s choice.
The seats in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation and Port-of-Spain City Corporation became vacant following the death of councillors Pernell Bruno on July 8, 2017 and Darrly Rajpaul on November 18, 2017.
As a newcomer to the political arena, Samlal, 25, a full-time photographer, said he wants to educate, inform and empower electors to have a better options when they go to the polls.
Samlal said he was willing to give up his successful business for the sake of serving his community “because I firmly believe that we cannot reach far if we leave others behind. Progress we must do altogether.”
As a community oriented individual, Samlal said Barataria has been plagued by wanton neglect while burgesses lacked proper representation.
Two weeks ago, Maraj-Dharam, 55, gave up being a housewife and full-time mother of two to enter politics.
Having seen the state Barataria has degenerated with a spate of robberies, unemployment and total neglect, Maraj-Dharam said there was a common cry among burgesses that they have been poorly represented.
As a community activist and having served as a polling agent for the UNC, Maraj-Dharam, who is unemployed, promises to serve the people if elected.
She said her humility gives her the edge over the PNM’s candidate.
“My humility is my strong point. I always try listen to what someone has to say because I believe that the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Small, who is completing her MSc in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health at UWI, St Augustine, made her mark in the PNM ten year ago as a youth speaker and has mobilised Barataria’s youths during three successful election campaigns.
She is currently a Health, Safety and Environment officer at a research institute.
“After working closely with our councillor, the late Mr Bruno, I was motivated by his passion for his burgesses and the positive impact of his efforts on their lives.”
Small took up the big challenge to contest the district, promising to bring comfort, safety and security to all burgesses if she get their support.
Boxing coach and pre-school teacher Babb-Gonzales, 45, a mother of three, has promised to knock out her opponents when she gets into the ring.
“Since canvassing in the community I have been warmly embraced by all.”
With Belmont being a PNM stronghold, Babb-Gonzales said with the disenchantment on the ground by the grassroots, the votes may very well swing in the UNC’s favour.
Affectionately called Ras and Reds, Babb-Gonzales said her home-town is faced with a plethora of problems, ranging from shortages of pipe-borne water, deplorable roads, land erosion and lack of public garbage bins.
Holder, 30, a communication officer who resides in Belmont, holds the view that the country is in dire need of change.
She said PEP wants citizens to realise that they deserve far better and power lies in their hands. “Nothing has changed in the country in the last 56 years…so why are we going back to the same old? The people who have been presenting solutions now are the same ones who have presented solutions three years ago in the Local Government Election and we have seen no change for the better. If they are coming with the same rhetoric, why not look for something different or another option?”
She said there were few opportunities offered to young and talented people which needed to be addressed.
As an advocate for the voice of change and progress, Young said she has spent her entire life helping people and empowering youth and communities.
She has worked with the St Jude’s School for Girls, Rebirth House Drug Rehabilitation Centre and the National Domestic Violence Hotline by providing counselling and advice to those in need.
She also hopes to establish workshops for young girls and women so they can live healthy lifestyles.