This week, we asked residents of Linden about the upcoming local government elections and if they will be voting. Their answers follow:
Leslie Mc Curdy :I am aware of Local Government Elections and I welcome the decision by the Government. Where I live in the ward we do self-help work to clean up the streets and so but the vacant places that have a lot of vegetation nobody does anything there. So I think the Local Government Elections would help to address that situation. This would be the first time I would be voting at Local Government Elections. However, I think they should have more young people involved in Local Government Elections and what it really is. Many of them are not educated on what the election is all about and they don’t seem to have an interest.
David Mooloo: I have a fair knowledge of what Local Government Elections is but I would like to have more information at hand. The elections was not kept for 20 something years and a new generation is here and if they are not educated enough they would have no interest. I think teachers should give students some lessons in school so they would have an understanding on what local government elections really is. The topic of Local Government Elections is not talked about. We are accustomed to hearing about general elections. And when the teacher teaches about Local Government Elections students would become aware of the importance of the elections and would go home and share with their parents. I would be voting because this concerns the town developments and every one should get sensitized and vote. The atmosphere on Local Government Elections in Linden is slow but I hope it would pick up and persons would know what to do on elections day.
Pamela John: I know Local Government Elections is important because it is about community developments. So many years we didn’t have Local
Government Elections and things in the community fall apart and that is why this elections is important because we
would vote to put persons in place to take care of developments. In Linden it seems as if a lot of young people are not paying interest to the importance of the elections. They should get involved and educated because in the end they are going to be the ones left to run the affairs of the community. This place needs a lot of development.
Agrey Darlington: I know what Local Government Elections are about and I am ready to vote to see changes. But I do think there should be more public consultations because many persons don’t seem to have a fair idea of what Local Government Elections is all about. They should come and have one-on-one meetings where we can discuss and ask questions on what we don’t understand. After I vote at the elections I would like to see more happen.
Francis Brathwaite : This election is long overdue. I am 94 and only one time I have heard of it within the last 20 years. I applaud the Government for making the decision to hold the elections. There are many things in the communities that needs to be addressed. At present nobody is concerned about anything and it’s falling apart. Local Government Elections are important and young people should be interested in what it is and know about it because in future they might suffer. I will be voting in March.
Lorraine David: I don’t know what really Local Government Elections is. I heard people talking about it in the streets and radio and television but I don’t understand it very well. However, I will vote when the time comes
around. I want to see changes and developments.
Robert Greene: I have a fair idea of what Local Government Elections is and I am learning more as time goes on. I have been following Local Government Election developments in the newspapers, but I think we need more information on how it works as it relates to the constituency in which we live and have to vote. They should have public meetings, and sensitize the people to give awareness and the seriousness of the election. If we have the right information and understanding we would have the right grasp and be able to play our part.
Patrick Seaford: A lot of people don’t know the difference between Local Government Elections and Regional elections and the purpose of Local Government Elections. This elections seems like something new to people because we haven’t heard of it in years. People need to be more educated on Local Government Elections because if they are not educated they would not be interested to go and vote and make a difference. I have a general idea of what Local Government Elections is about and I plan to vote. Hopefully when it comes to crunch time people will catch on and go and vote but they
need to be aware of what they are voting for.
Lynette Lawrence: I am aware of what the elections entails and will be voting. I am concerned about the young people because they are not paying any interest to what is Local Government Election. Local Government Elections is where we vote for the people who would represent our community and ensure that we see development. They need to pay attention and take interest in what it is because they would be the ones who are eventually to take over the leadership and they would suffer if they don’t know what they have to do. I also think that the persons running for the different constituencies should make themselves known to the public so we are going to see who we are voting for.
Jaren Canterbury: I know what Local Government Elections is. A lot of persons do not know what Local Government Elections is but I am aware it is a very important elections about electing officials in the respective communities that would help with developments. And help also with communities to come together and foster better development.
Persons who don’t know much should be sensitized and informed on the importance because if they don’t they won’t want to go and vote and be involved and it would be bad. I can’t vote because of my age but I would urge people that are eligible to go and vote and share the knowledge I have with them.
