Children with disabilities who attend the Linden Centre for Disabled Children turned up on Monday morning to the greeted by two spanking new bridges and a newly renovated facility, compliments of the Linden Salvation Council (LSC) and community-minded persons.
On Sunday last, members of the LSC, businessmen and residents turned out in their numbers to completely rebuild the two bridges leading to the centre and conduct needed repairs on the facility.
The initiative followed a public plea made by members of LSC. Chairman Phillip Bynoe had issued the call for residents of Linden to join forces to bring needed development to the town when the council was resuscitated after seven years of dormancy.
Bynoe said the council is for persons who are willing to give of their time and energy free of cost. “The Linden Salvation Council is not a contracting company, it’s not a municipality, it’s not a regional council, it’s a private body of good-minded, well-meaning, like-minded citizens who would come together and try to use our own resources and amenities to solve our problems to move ourselves and community forward,” he said.
Sunday’s action was evidence that residents were ready and willing to pool their resources in an effort to bring about needed changes. Not only did they contribute money and materials, but they were on site with their spades, hammers and other tools.
Among the businessmen present at the site were Indar Singh of Singh’s Cash and Carry General Store, Dr Joseph Haynes, Brian McRae, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Paul Jones, Norvel Fredericks and Stan Smith of Jac’s Restaurant Hotel and Diner. Abdul Hamid and several others represented the sport sector. PNCR leadership contender Dr Richard Van West Charles also turned up at the site where he made a monetary donation towards the project and spent some time participating in the construction. Several others who did not have prior knowledge of the activity, but were passing by, stopped to give moral and other support. One woman, still dressed in her Sunday church attire, picked up a spade and began mixing cement.
“That is the spirit of a true community woman,“ one man was overheard saying.
Since its establishment in January 1998 the LSC has built a number of bridges. These include a timber bridge across the Katapulli creek as well as at First, Second and Third alleys and two footpath timber bridges in West Watooka.
It has assisted with the provision of pure water supply to the community of Speightland, Lower Kara Kara and in the One Mile extension; installation of 16” diameter steel pipes to correct erosion problem in Amelia’s Ward and spearheading the construction of the Linden Com-munity Development Trust building at Silvertown/Half Mile. According to the organisation, “When we build a bridge and link two communities together the people who are building the bridge have been linked by the desire to serve their communities.”
Currently the Centre for Disabled Children has 25 children enrolled. However, it is felt by its management that there are many more differently-able children who reside in the town but are kept at home. LSC said it intends to embark on a comprehensive programme to ensure that no child is denied an opportunity to reach his/her fullest potential.
