Like hundreds of overseas-based Guyanese, Egerton David planned his vacation to Guyana to coincide with Linden Town Week activities, to celebrate the town’s 42nd anniversary and to participate in a forum aimed at generating ideas to boost livelihoods.
A patient care technician and a licensed nurse, David, a born Lindener left the shores of Guyana 11 years ago but has not forgotten his home town. “On this particular trip I am back to celebrate with one of my very close friend, his 60th birth anniversary, he has served this community and has chosen to come back home to celebrate his birthday here, and also because Linden Town Week means a whole lot to me,” he told Stabroek News.
LTW as town week activities are more popularly known, started after David migrated to the USA, however, while he lived here a similar concept had been discussed by the Regional Democratic Council. “I embrace the whole idea about town week though I have some reservations about how we are utilizing the recourses that we have available,” he said, adding that he would continue to support and encourage persons to make meaningful contributions to the town.
In addition to participating in the celebrations, the Linden Fund USA has also asked David to play a key role in the men’s forum on the roster for this year’s programme. David told this newspaper that he hopes that the forum will inspire men to take the lead with regard to developing the community. He observed that the men engage in extensive drinking and womanizing and he hopes that the exchanges during the forum will inspire them since the town has now lost one of its major economic support systems. “I have heard many comments as to what we can do to create a synergy by harnessing all those views and thoughts and that the whole idea of the forum,” he said.
An emphatic “no match” was his response when this reporter asked him what he thinks of the town now, compared with 12 years ago. He pointed to the poor drainage system in the heart of the town, noting that the drains at the frontage of the building which now houses the Linden Enterprise Network was a popular play spot for the game “cow boy” back in the day. Today, it is a far cry from what it used to be; “We were able to hide under those bridges when we use to play cow boy,” he said.
According to David, the town can return to a more promising state than that which currently obtains and he is hopeful that through the men’s forum ideas can be birthed about how best to address issues affecting the town. “Our community has gained and it has lost,” he said, noting the development in Amelia’s Ward. David said it is evident the residents of Linden have a taste for “nice” things which has resulted in the construction of a number of beautiful houses in the Amelia’s Ward community.
David said though he does not have the authority to talk about a vision for Linden he believes that residents should continue to think of upward mobility and embrace their vision for the town. He also said he hopes that in another ten years there would be notable improvement in the infrastructure; a change in the mindset of young men and boosted morale in the entire community.
