Linden Municipal Councillors sworn in to 4th Council

– Waneka Arindell, Wainwright Bethune return as Mayor and Deputy-Mayor

– composition of Council sees new faces 

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, November 28, 2018

The newly-designated Councillors of the 4th Council of the Municipality of Linden have re-elected Waneka Arrindell and Wainwright Bethune as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.

The voting was done by secret ballot after motions were made for same to be done. Arrindell tipped newly-elected Councillor Deron Adams nine out of 16 votes while the vote for Deputy Mayor position resulted in a tie between Bethune and newly elected Councillor Monica Hackshaw. Arrindell cast the deciding ballot and voted in favour of Bethune, citing his diligence and hard work over the past three years.

In her victory speech, Arrindell thanked the administrative staff of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) who supported her and noted her satisfaction that democracy had prevailed in the voting process. Arindell is a wife and mother of three. She was a former journalist and a teacher. She served as mayor for eight months, during the last Council. She served as Deputy-Mayor for two terms prior to her mayoral post.

The other Councillors who took their oath-of-office were Yanick Graham, Alicia Bentick, Lawrence Simon, Stephen Messiah, Leroy James, Lorna Calvan, Fern McKoy, Gary King, Kevin DeJonge for the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU). For the Alliance For Change (AFC), Roger Kingston and Norvelle Fredericks and the PPP’s lone candidate Sherry James.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Adams-Yearwood, who served as campaign manager for the APNU, said that it is a rewarding feeling to see 13 of her candidates taking up 16 of the seats. She urged the candidates to remain humble and servants of the people since they have great expectations of them.

“I want to remind you that as Councillors, you are servants to the people and not masters, Linden is looking forward to great things from you and as I look around the table, I believe that you have the potential, the ability, the confidence and the skill to meet the expectations of the people of Linden,” the minister said.

Former Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, who also serves as the President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM), advised the Councillors to adopt a progressive mindset and also urged the residents of Linden to hold them accountable. “Only when people are held accountable, then you will see them taking their responsibility more seriously.”

Among those who attended the ceremony were Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Adams-Yearwood, Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Audwin Rutherford, Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman Renis Morian and Elroy Adolph, former mayor Stanley Smith, ‘E’ Division Commander Linden Lord, several stakeholders, relatives of the candidates and residents at large.

Story and Image: Vanessa Braithwaite.