NOT only is 20-year-old Andre Stephens the youngest candidate contesting a seat on the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP’s) ticket in today’s local Government Elections, but this University of the West Indies student is hoping to make history — that of winning Waterford Division in Portmore, St Catherine, traditionally held by the People’s National Party (PNP).

Though fully aware of the uphill battle he faces as a first-time councillor candidate in a PNP stronghold, Stephens’ confidence lies not only in the fact that he was born, raised and still lives in Waterford, but in the plans he has to develop the communities.

“I am confident of a victory because first of all I am a homeboy to Waterford who is known by the citizens, and so it’s not a matter of the JLP or the PNP, it’s about community first and ensuring the citizens get the best representation,” he said.

“I am confident of a victory because first of all I am a homeboy to Waterford who is known by the citizens, and so it’s not a matter of the JLP or the PNP, it’s about community first and ensuring the citizens get the best representation,” he said.

“As a church youth who is fully engaged in youth development in Waterford, persons don’t see me as a Labourite, they see me as a young man who is an ambassador to change the dimension of what is happening in the community.”

Stephens said his interest in representational politics began with his presidency in the National Secondary School’s Student Council and continued with his involvement as a youth parliamentarian and youth advocate

“Whether it’s JLP or PNP, if something is not going right on both sides of the fence, I would ensure that I speak out first for the cohort I represent,” he told the Observer as he wound up campaigning.

With such an interest in serving the people, Stephens said he opted to offer himself for service to better represent the lives of his neighbours in Waterford.

As such, he has promised that a victory for him at the polls would see infrastructural development prioritised in the division. This would include the establishment of a community centre to start a literacy and numeracy programme for both children and adults.

Within a year, Stephens hopes a community park would also be up and running to give children a safe zone to play.

Drain cleaning and street light maintenance are also high on his list of priorities.

The St Catherine High school past student believes his age will work to his advantage; being able to take advice from his seniors while using his youthful synergy to ensure that all stakeholders support his projects as part of a team effort.

“So all sectors of the community, from commerce to corner youth, to senior citizens, to youth clubs, churches and schools will be involved in the community development process,” he said.

This, he believes, would create a system of checks and balances to ensure Waterford citizens get the best representation possible.

“Elections are not won by just giving out flyers and waving to people but are won based on going house-to-house to take note of the needs and, in the best possible time, see what resolution can be reached,” he said.

Stephens, who attributes his determination to succeed to his grandmother Hortense Williams, is now balancing his political career with school as he completes a degree in international relations and history.

Whether he is successful at the polls at the end of the day, Stephens said he wants to establish a foundation to target street youths.

“What I want to do is partner with the various youth development agencies so we can champion a true cause, so that these young men will get the opportunity to come off the streets,” he said.