Rayki Bascome-Emery will hold a news conference tomorrow announcing his candidacy in C22 Paget East
Rayki Bascome-Emery, independent candidate for C22 Paget East, Photo: Supplied
Rayki Bascome-Emery, the former chairman of the Free Democratic Movement, will announce his candidacy during a news conference tomorrow.
In a news statement, Mr. Bascome-Emery states that he has been canvassing in the C22 Paget East area. He notes public safety and the impending closure of the Gilbert Institute primary school’s closure as part of public school system reform as key issues in his constituency.
He stated, “We forget about those empty promises and focus on working together to create a genuine change in our communities. As part of my campaign, I’ve started working with businesses to find private sector solutions for problems presented by this government.
“This includes trash collection, lowered prices on select goods, employment opportunities and solutions to reduce anti-social behaviour all provided through businesses in the community.”
He believes voters are looking for candidates with new ideas regardless of their background or former political affIliations.
Paget East was secured by the OBA’s Scott Pearman in 2020 with 56% of the vote while the PLP’s Curtis Richardson lost with 43% of votes out of a total 837 ballots cast.
Mr. Bascome-Emery concluded, “The idea that there are safe seats that cannot be touched due to party alliance is dead.
“The people want change and they want to be represented by people they know care.”
His aim is to localise solutions by divesting power from the government using a community-driven initiative, ‘Project 22’
Mr. Bascome-Emery told media today he resigned from the FDM as chair last October and left the party, having made up his mind to become an independent some time ago.
For the full statement, read the below:
I would like to first thank the constituents of Paget East for engaging with me over the last few weeks the conversations are valued, appreciated and will be taken in consideration. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to share my visions with you. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during this time. It is your support that makes this easier and easier.
I debated this with my friends for weeks before deciding to run as an independent candidate. They told me not to do it. They said that it would be too difficult, that I have other endeavours in my life that could use my attention and that I do not need politics
getting in the way. To be fair they’re right, and I understand and I appreciate their concerns but if not me then who? For far too long the UBP and now the OBA have kicked the can down the road in C22.
They have taken the seat for granted, made empty promises and shown blatant disregard for the people that live in our community. Where was the Shadow Minster of National Security when Keni Outerbridge was murdered in his constituency? Silent, absent, minding the businesses that pay him more. We are now watching the closure of Gilbert Institute, a school with almost one hundred years of history, based on the idea that we as country cannot afford to educate our children. Where is the MP for the area when the
school in his constituency is being closed? Silent, absent, minding the businesses that pay him more.
So the idea is this. We forget about those empty promises and focus on working together to create a genuine change in our communities. As part of my campaign, I’ve started working with businesses to find private sector solutions for problems presented by this government. This includes trash collection, lowered prices on select goods, employment opportunities and solutions to reduce anti-social behaviour all provided through businesses in the community.
There are some people who will ask, why not a PLP seat? The answer is simple, this isn’t about parties and the PLP’s day will come eventually. If not this election, then the next.
This is about the people and the people need proper representation now. The idea that there are safe seats that cannot be touched due to party alliance is dead. The people want change and they want to be represented by people they know care. Whether I win or lose doesn’t exactly matter here. What matters is the example. That someone was willing to challenge the status quo for the benefit of the people.
For Friday’s full news conference, click the video below:
