The Liverpool Community Independents Team mayoral candidate said his group was committed to weakening the ``major party dominance'' over the Liverpool area.

``Despite what some people have said, it does make sense to run as a team of independent candidates because we are a team of individuals,'' Mr Jacotine said. ``We're working together but aren't compelled to vote along a party line. We're all individuals and have our own beliefs and policies but we're interested in working in co-operation to help the community.''

Mr Jacotine is the Liverpool Christian Life Centre pastor.

Born in Sri Lanka, he is a convert to Christianity and lives in Cartwright. He has lived in the area since 1989.

``Liverpool is at a crossroads now,'' he said. ``If the wrong people are elected for the council this time it will never recover but it also has the opportunity to develop if the right people are elected.

``The people of Liverpool need to believe in themselves again that's what's most important. We need to work on improving the image of this city, first and foremost.

``We need to clean up the streets the rubbish, the graffiti, maintain the parks, provide the essential services, such as quality roads and work on solving the drug problem in the CBD.''

Mr Jacotine said the Liverpool Christian Life Centre held community events.

``That gives people a chance to get away from their TV and communicate with others. We need to make Liverpool safer, so people feel more comfortable gathering at night and spending time together instead of sitting at home isolated.''

Mr Jacotine has been an IBM project manager. He became a pastor in 1985 before joining Jesus Care in Kings Cross, an organisation that helped to rehabilitate drug addicts.

He was Liverpool Council's Citizen of the Year in 1999 because of his successful New Beginnings Breakfast Club which was run at The Hub in Miller.