I’ve been working in East Sussex, from Hastings to Eastbourne, for the last 7 and a half years, as a veterinary surgeon.

Full statement

I’ve also been living in Hailsham/Hellingly for the past 5 years. What I love most about our county are its people and the great natural beauty that the countryside and coastal areas provide us.

Being originally from Portugal, I am happy to call this country my home now. I’ve experienced first hand the hospitality and humanity of the British people and have nothing but good things to say about it. This comes into stark contrast with what we hear in the media. A loud minority would like us to think that the country is divided and are trying to turn neighbour against neighbour. But our day-to-day experiences show us the opposite: a country united by our shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, mutual understanding and the pursuit of happiness; not only for the few, but for all of us!

For too many years, politicians have been disconnected from these shared values. Understandably, people have become disillusioned with politics and feeling that nothing can be changed. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that democracy doesn’t work. It simply means that we need better politicians, who closely align with people’s shared values. I believe that the Green Party is bringing back humanity into politics, mirroring British common values.

I’m proud to be the Green Party’s County Councillor candidate for Arlington, East Hoathly & Hellingly. If elected, I will focus my energy and efforts in the following areas:

● Road maintenance: make sure that current maintenance contracts are fit for purpose, delivering good value for money and delivering good performance. I will focus on the motto that it’s better to fix something properly the first time, than multiple times in a lesser manner, to deliver long-term sustainability and reliability for our road infrastructure.

● Community and local businesses: create an online directory of community groups, volunteering opportunities and locally available jobs, so locals can easily find what’s available near them. Incentivize local shopping and support for local businesses via this directory, where businesses will be able to advertise their goods and services.

● Communication and transparency: keep voters informed about what’s happening in Council meetings and how decisions will impact them, with the possibility of direct and indirect participation, via online polls and Council open days.

I would be very pleased to count on your vote in the local elections. Vote Green to bring back trust and accountability into politics. Vote Green to bring back hope.