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First Indo-Guyanese enters political arena in Queens

By Michelle Han

In a bid to give a steadily growing minority population a face in local government, Richmond Hill attorney and Guyanese-American Trevor Rupnarain has announced his candidacy for City Council in the 2001 elections.

It is the first time anyone of Indo-Guyanese background has tried to seek office in a neighborhood whose Indo-Caribbean population has grown to more than 60,000 people, according to Indo-Caribbean advocacy groups in Richmond Hill.

Rupnarain, 37, who made his official declaration of candidacy at a fund-raising dinner in November, is seeking the seat being vacated by Councilman Tom White (D-Jamaica) because of term limits in 2001. He has the backing of the Richmond Hill-based New Concept Democratic Club headed by real estate agent Ed Ahmad.

Another Indo-Guyanese candidate, Dr. Taj Rajkumar, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 31st District