3-way battle for Hollywood, Pt Fortin

A THREE-WAY battle is on for the Point Fortin community of Hollywood in the upcoming local government by-election on January 25.

But one candidate is being called an “outsider,” as the others question his ability to understand the issues faced by the community, when he has never lived there.

The three vying for the position of councillor are the UNC’s Daniel John, PNM’s Leslie Chang Fong, who is also the deputy mayor of the borough, and independent candidate Christopher Wright.

The position became open after former mayor and councillor of the area Kennedy Richards Jr became the Point Fortin MP.

Chang Fong was the first of the three candidates to file his nomination papers and on leaving the building, he was greeted by Richards, present Point Fortin mayor Saleema McCree Thomas and several other councillors who came to support him.

Chang Fong, who is originally from Mahaica, told the media he did not know who his opponents were yet.

But he said, “Everybody has an interest in winning the electoral area of Hollywood. But Hollywood, traditionally, has more or less been a PNM stronghold. And we are all about reaching to the people and letting the people decide.”

He said he is confident the PNM is the best choice for the area.

He is also an alderman, so the Point Fortin Borough Council will have to find a replacement for him should he be elected councillor.

Richards’ father, the late Kennedy Richards Snr, also served as councillor for the area. Asked how he feels about the baton being passed down to someone outside his family, Richards said it remains a part of “the PNM family.

“It’s been there for 22 years. For 12 years, my father served there, until his death in 2008, and then I would have taken over from 2010-2020.

“So it’s still part of the PNM family, and the PNM is a structured family, so we will continue with that representation.”

Chang Fong said Hollywood is a “densely populated and densely packed area.”

He wants to kick-start infrastructural projects, fixing roads, proper drainage and dealing with Spring Trace’s squatting community.

“I am very confident because the party I represent – we do it the best and we do it the right way and we are the best representation for now and in the future. I am backed by a very strong team.”

But Wright, who previously screened for the PNM, says he does not believe in people who are not from a particular area contesting to become councillors there.

Had Chang Fong been from Hollywood, he said, he would have supported him. He said he is now being “bashed” by the PNM as a result of his decision.

“I believe in local representation coming from your area. And when you see you have to go out of your area to get representation on a local level, I always believe it to be a no-no.”

Despite its being a PNM stronghold, he said he is 90 per cent confident he will win, from the feedback he received while walking through the community and from living there.

“Hollywood people not really glad to have this person come and represent them.

“If something happens at any hour of the night, you want somebody you can go to, knock on their door, say ‘Councillor, hear what is the scene. Something now happen.’ But if it’s someone from outside the area, how can you make contact with them?”

He said he has been around politics “all his life,” adding,“I believe in representing people. I don’t believe in representing party.”

He works as a clerk at the Ministry of Works and Transport. But since saying he would be contesting the by-election, he began hearing rumours of him being moved from Point Fortin to the Port of Spain office.

Nevertheless, he said, “I going strong. If they move me, I will get up and go to work and still reach down in time to campaign.

“I am bringing home victory in Hollywood.”

He too mentioned issues of infrastructure, and also unemployment.

John echoed the sentiments of Wright, saying Hollywood has been neglected for years.

“The people are voting between habit and intelligence. For too long, the habit of being simple and having people accept that – that has to break. I want to bring some intelligence to the people and hope they take it and make the change for their future and the future of their children’s children.”

He said it is his second time going up as a councillor for the UNC, the first time being under the Basdeo Panday-led government.

He too spoke about Chang Fong, saying, “Well, if you’re not from the area, you can’t really do anything for the area, because you don’t understand the real needs of the area.

“You have been an alderman from since before and the problems are still there. So what can you bring differently? Alderman is also partially like a councillor as well. They contribute to the decision-making of the council.”

He said he was involved in football and Best Village, among other things in the area.

“The victory is mine,” he said.