On the Campaign Trail with Dr. Francis Smith

The Pickstock constituency is one of the smallest in the City. At the last election the P.U.P. stronghold went red in the tidal wave that swept across the country. But Doctor Francis Smith hopes to change that and return the division to the blue corner. He is a first time candidate who we feature tonight in our campaign trail series.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano caught up with him as he went door to door with his team of supporters in an area that he says has been abandoned.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The door to door visit led by Dr. Francis Smith along Haulze Street, a rather short, rutted two-way at the far end of Pickstock, is not medical outreach being provided to this poverty-stricken community.  In fact, this is the corner pocket of his constituency, a forgotten neighborhood where a different form of community service is being offered to a handful of indigent residents.

Francis Smith

Dr. Francis Smith, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Pickstock

“This area wants change.  They are demanding change.  The misery here is self-evident, you can look at [it] there’s absolutely nothing here.  There’s no proper drainage.  Every time it rains these children, you can all see them, they actually play around in the muck.  People flush there toilets and they are actually playing in refuse. There’s a huge problem in Pickstock, it’s self-evident and this problem can’t be solved without a partnership.  So it has to be from the bottom coming up.  So I depend on these people to tell me exactly what’s wrong.  I’m depending on them to hold me accountable and to tell me every step of the way where I’m going wrong or if I’m doing right and that’s how I intend to help Pickstock.”

Francis Smith, the elder brother of former P.U.P. area representative Godfrey Smith, has joined the political fray in an attempt to make an indelible impression on Pickstock.  This division was once familiar territory to the late Right Honorable George Price who, for many years, resided on the very street it was named after.

Dr. Francis Smith

“My message is one of change, of making a difference and I’m extremely and very serious about it.  I think Pickstock can change and I feel extremely inspired with ladies like these people you see right here: Ms. Dorla Williams, Ms. Carla and these ladies right here.”

Accompanying him during his campaign is a group of women dedicated to the cause.  Together they canvass the entire constituency one household at a time.  The neglected conditions of the people on Haulze Street is one that Smith knows to all too well.

Dr. Francis Smith

“I came from this.  So as I go house to house I’m just wondering why is it that these fellows aren’t like me.  I’m a successful fellow and I believe that we can make this happen I just think that Pickstock needs a heart and it needs people who are genuinely concerned and I believe it is about time that people become intolerant.  You can’t just sit by and be frustrated.  You can’t become hopeless.  You have to take matters into your hand and you have to create the change.”

In order to create that change Smith will have to defeat incumbent area representative Wilfred Elrington at the polls on March seventh to return the division to the People’s United Party.  Whether or not Pickstock will be returned to form is anyone’s guess.  Smith, nonetheless, is imploring the public to exercise its democratic right on Election Day to make a difference.

Dr. Francis Smith

“It’s time for serious thought, for serious work.  And I would like to say to the people give us a chance.  You have to be intolerant, I know the mood is one of hopelessness, frustration.  They are tired of both parties and I can’t say that they are wrong because myself I’ve been frustrated over the years.  I believe people have to grow more intolerant, you’ve got to vote.  You can’t stay home and not vote.  And I am saying come out, vote [and] if this crowd hasn’t done and I believe they haven’t done what they promised.  It’s just selling dreams and they’ve become the very monster they criticized in 2007.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.