‘Lily’ launched in Marriaqua Valley

Adorned like a Beauty Queen with a green sash inscribed with the word “Marriaqua” and wearing a flowing yellow skirt and top which were imprinted with black keys, Advira Bennett was presented on Saturday, November 12, to Marriaqua constituents at the Richland Park Playing Field as the New Democratic Party, NDP’s, representative for that area.

Also know as the “Lily of the Valley,” Bennett wasted no time in outlining that she was concerned about the well-being of the constituents. She claimed that the people suffered from poor planning that had led to poverty and poor roads. Bennett said that if voted into office she would “walk the talk” unlike the current Unity Labour Party, ULP’s, representative, Girlyn Miguel. {{more}}

She accused Miguel of neglecting her constituents and of being a poor Agriculture Minister who knew nothing about her ministry.

Bennett said if the NDP was elected into office they would have to rescue Agriculture.

She claimed that Miguel was not standing up for her constituents whom she said were promised by the ULP government that bananas would be exported to Libya amongst other things. She chastised the Government for putting the cart before the horse by encouraging farmers to plant produce while there were no markets, which was an indication of their poor planning.

The former Manager of the Dumbarton Poultry Farm said that the ULP made a big “Hullabaloo” about her giving away “day- old male chicks” to residents in Marriaqua but that this was because she saw people who needed them. Bennett said the usual procedure of killing the chicks was against her conscience and if she was voted into office she would instead give the chicks to needy residents so that they could rear and eat them.

Describing herself as a “True Daughter of Marriaqua,” Bennett said she was disappointed that the area had not returned to being the “food basket” that it once was and that it did not play a major role in feeding the nation.

Speaking under an umbrella and not deterred by the pouring rain, which began during the latter part of her speech, Bennett described her vision of Marriaqua becoming the site of a manufacturing industry for the many residents who produce food from the lush valley. She also outlined plans for better library facilities, a community centre, better maintenance of schools and a night market for her constituency. She chided the representative for not pushing for a resident doctor in the community, and complained that ants and wood lice were taking over the clinic.

Besides promising to do more to help the people of Marriaqua, Bennett also expressed concern that there was too much divisiveness and promised to help bring unity among the residents who were divided by party politics.