Victorious APNU candidate promises continuous development for Kildonan
– as Number 28 Bush Lot/Adventure NDC tied 3-3 APNU, PPP/C
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, November 15, 2018
Twenty-two-year-old Colin Moore of Kildonan Village, contested for the second time as a candidate in the Local Government Elections (LGE) for Constituency 4 – Kildonan, in the Neighborhood Democratic Council of Number 28 Bush Lot/Adventure, and won.
Based on the Statement of Polls (SOPs), Moore secured 168 votes while the candidate for the PPP/C received 39. The NDC is tied with the PPP/C and the APNU each winning three of the six constituencies. PPP got 682 and APNU 499 votes based on polling station numbers.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the vibrant young man said while he is ecstatic with the win there is much to be done and has committed to working with the other candidate to better improve the community and provide a comfortable life for the over 470 plus residents.
“I felt a sense of responsibility knowing a lot of persons place their confidence in me. I know many persons believe that I can deliver and I know I can deliver. However, I will not let this go to my head and become egotistical. There is a lot of work to be done and even though I won a majority, there were still persons who believed in and voted for the other candidate,” Moore said.
In order to ensure the continued development of his constituency and the NDC as a whole, Moore explained that he will partner with other candidates to get the work done. “I am calling on everyone including the Regional Administration; the elections are over and we must work together because this is the only way we can realise true development. If we work together all the residents will benefit and that’s what I want for my community, whenever an improvement is available everyone takes part.”
During his reign as councillor from 2016 to present, Moore helped his community to benefit from new asphaltic concrete roads, two new bridges, improved drainage and irrigation among other works. Heading his news agenda for the continued development is further drainage and irrigation, infrastructural works and improved emphasis on youth development.
“It’s evident that there are young people who are not engaged in meaningful work and I want to change that. I am encouraging youths to participate in self-development and empowerment programmes which are available in this very community,” he said.
According to Moore, in 2017, he partnered with the Ministry of Public Security’s Community Action Council and provided the opportunity for over 90 persons from within the Bush Lot/Adventure area to attend the two technical institutes in the region in order to gain technical and vocational skills.
Additionally, in February of this year, the young leader birthed a pilot project called the “Kildonan Night School” where a total of fifty-five persons are currently receiving free classes to re-sit Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects. The project is being funded by the Ministry of the Presidency’s Youth Empowerment Network.
“We believe persons should be given a second chance to achieve their academic grades. This programme caters to school dropouts, or if someone wishes to re-write a subject, they [he or she] did not pass. Classes are offered free of cost”, Moore noted. The community currently benefits from an ICT hub which is housed in the Kildonan Multipurpose Centre.
For continued support and empowerment of youths in the community, Moore says he plans to establish sustainable community businesses where young persons are gainfully employed and revenue comes into the community from the community. As such, young youths will soon benefit from the establishment of the Kildonan Block Making Facility which is an initiative of the Ministry of Social Protection.
Story and Images: Nafeeza Sakur.