With local government elections set for December 5, candidates of the two major political parties in the western region are busy campaigning in their respective divisions.

Today, we ask the first-time contenders in Hanover, which has seven parish council divisions, what they’ll bring to the table:

The PNP’s Derrick Foster (PNP) will contest the Hopewell division against the JLP’s incumbent Vasca Brown.

“I bring to the table quality leadership and years of experience in giving service.

I intend to capatilise on the wealth of experience that I have gained from being Region Three chairman of the National Workers Union (NWU) and a director of the Round Hill Hotel Staff Co-operative Credit Union, which I co-founded.

I am confident that if elected, I will be able to implement a number of social and economic programmes that are lacking in the area.”

The JLP’s Easton Edwards will contest the Lucea division against the PNP’s Paul Trench.

“I have been living in Lucea for the better part of 18 years and I have seen where the human resource of this area is lacking. The average youngster that you see in and around the Lucea division don’t have any skill at all.

I would therefore like to bring education to the table and when I speak about education I am talking about training, giving the average youngster an opportunity to learn, even if he is not academically friendly.

I want to make certain that the people in Lucea and its environs have proper roads, water, electricity. If I can achieve that, then I will be in the council for a very long time.

The JLP’s Albert Lee will contest the Riverside division against the PNP’s Tatina Murray.

“In recent years I have noticed that the area needs proper roads, water supply, a clinic, post office and other social amenities. I have been noticing the neglect from ever since and I can commit myself to addressing some of these problems under the Jamaica Labour Party Government.

I am looking at training for the youth in skills such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing… we need to empower them because they will be the future of tomorrow

The JLP’s Vaccianna Mosley will contest the Cauldwell division against the PNP’s Junior Allen.

“The division which has been represented for the last 18 years by the People’s National Party (PNP) has been neglected.

For some reason or the other the persons who have been representing the division are not from the area so they don’t show that form of commitment for the division. I am from the area and I intend to serve my people. I was made by the people and they made me into what I am and so I intend to give them back some of what they have sown.

My manifesto deals with electricity, potable water and I intend to organise a very substantial youth programme in the area so that the youth can benefit.”

The PNP’s Tatina Murray will contest the Riverside division against the JLP’s Albert Lee.

“I see it as a platform for me to give as much as I can in helping toward the development of all the communities in the division. The fact is that I have a history of involvement in the division and I am a community-oriented person. In my community of Mount Piece, for example, I am involved in a number of community programmes and so I see this position as councillor as an opportunity for me to contribute to other communities and its development.

If successful I intend to tackle the poor road conditions, the lack of electricity and the acute shortage of water.”