Muritaro votes in new Toshao

MURITARO RESIDENTS VOTED IN MR NICK ESTWICK AS THEIR NEW TOSHAO
following Sunday elections.
Estwick was Deputy Toshao in the Berbice River community in the last Council, but was a
persistent vocal critic of outgoing Toshao, Ms. Loretta Fiedtkou, whom he publicly condemned
for alleged corrupt practices.
Estwick Sunday defeated Fiedtkou’s staunch supporter, Mr. Owen Bowling who challenged for
the post. He was loyal throughout after backing Fiedtkou during her two-term tenure.
Community members say there was ‘bad blood’ between the two men.
According to the results, Estwick secured 103 votes to Bowling 44. Bowling was Secretary in the
previous Council.
Residents kept faith in Estwick after insisting that he compete for the top community post.
“I had made up my mind that after the completion of my tenure as Deputy Toshao that I would
have moved on with my life as I still have a responsibility to my family to take care of them, thus
ensuring that I can focus on developing my family. But with all the challenges and difficulties
that I faced 1 felt that running for the post of Toshao wasn’t important. My supporters urged me
and backed me to run. They remained confident that I can and will revive this community to
ensure that normalcy… can return,” he told www.aroundtheregions.com during the run-up to the
polls.

An over-joyed supporter of Estwick noted, “the results of our elections for Toshao tells you that
the people of this community have placed their overwhelming support and confidence in Toshao
Estwick, who, while serving as Deputy Toshao in the previous Council demonstrated the kind of
leadership and skills needed in advancing and growing this community. Despite the many
deliberate attempts to frustrate him, good has indeed prevailed over evil as they always do and
we are very happy.”

Numerous challenges await the new Toshao who will have to find solutions to lingering
problems which festered under the Fiedtkou-led administration.
“Both governments didn’t want to move Toshao Fiedtkou for their own reasons, but the residents
came out and voted overwhelmingly, as we will continue to decide who we want to govern the
affairs of our community. If someone who we placed our trust in refuses to maintain our trust,
then we will use our electoral system to send a strong message,” the source reiterated.
The new six-member council elected that will be headed by Estwick are: Mr. Lester Piggot; Ms.
Cheryl Fiedtkou-Duggin; Mr. Ryan Piggott; Mr. Devon Jones; Mr. Paul Jones and Mr. Jermaine
Piggott.
Like Bowling, Ms. Clorine Bowen, Ms. Latoya Fiedtkou; Mr. Selvis Spencer, and Ms. Loretta
Fiedtkou failed to secure enough votes to win a place on the new Council.
The new Toshao and his Council were immediately sworn in following the announcement of the
results by the electoral officials which included Field Auditor, Ms. Carla Nedd served as the
Deputy Returning Officer and Ms. Odessa Jones as ballot clerk.
“This was a smoothly executed election and I think that the officers who came from the
Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to supervise it did a remarkable job as everything
went well and the community of Muritaro is extremely happy,” a satisfied resident said.