Miami, October 20- A son of the soil of the Caribbean Dr. Jeff Benjamin is well positioned to be the next Mayor of the City of Miami, Florida when citizens go to the polls on November 5.
Miami is considered the US gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America and is key to Caribbean trade, travel and tourism. Dr. Benjamin’s election would not only be seen as a victory for the city’s underprivileged and minority population but an opportunity to strengthen relations between the City and countries of the Caribbean which enjoy a critical trade relationship with the State of Florida, said former Guyanese diplomat Wesley Kirton at a dinner he hosted last Friday.
Speaking at the dinner, the mayoral candidate stressed that with his election the governance of the City of Miami would take place in an ethical, transparent and effective manner. Dr. Benjamin pointed out that if elected he would place special emphasis on dealing with homelessness, improving mental health care and ensuring an efficient and affordable public transportation system.
“I am not running for mayor because I just want to be mayor. I want to make a difference in this great city with the help of its citizens and other well intentioned people,” he said.
The dinner was hosted in honor of Dr. Benjamin as well as the visit to Florida of Equality News Publisher Dr. Bashkar Sharma of Toronto, Canada and Dr. Mark Kirton of the International Relations Institute at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.
Dr. Benjamin also pointed out that under his leadership he would seek to strengthen the commercial relations including trade with key markets such as the Caribbean and Latin America as well as China and India.
“Key to my administration if I win this election will be the conduct of the city’s business in an honest, ethical and transparent manner. For too long the citizens of Miami have had to put up with corruption and incompetence and I intend to bring an end to this,” Benjamin, a medical doctor told the gathering of business executives, media personnel and community leaders.
In his remarks Dr. Kirton said it was good that West Indians in the Diaspora “are seeking to expand their involvement and influence in a wider geographic space” and wished Dr. Benjamin every success at next month’s election. He noted that Florida was a top trading partner of the CARICOM region and having a West Indian as Mayor of Miami should open new opportunities for greater collaboration for mutual benefit.
Dr. Sharma in his remarks pointed to the importance of Caribbean nationals becoming a part of the political process in the Diaspora and commended Dr. Benjamin for “the bold step you have taken” to demonstrate that Caribbean Americans “are prepared to undertake leadership roles in their communities and to be serious about advancing the wellbeing of their communities.”
Benjamin has not been involved in politics prior to his current bid for mayor and is considered a fresh face who could bring a much desired new leadership and management style to a city that has grown tired of mismanagement and allegations of nepotism and corruption among its leadership. He has gotten the endorsement of some key organizations, individuals and media houses but a victory for him, according to analysts, would depend on how much support he gets from the Cuban American community, or alternatively, how much this section of the community is disenchanted with the incumbent that they stay away from the polls on November 5. –By Victoria Gordon
SOURCE: South Florida Caribbean News
