Dear Editor,
During the elections campaign 2011, Guyanese of all races, religions, creeds and classes were spoken to by various political and party representatives and were promised very many things, which caused us to cast our votes for a party we thought would or could improve our way of life. I remember quite vividly in Linden, Mr Donald Ramotar, now president, in the presence of former president Bharrat Jagdeo, said that if the People’s Progressive Party returned to power, they would provide 2,000 more jobs in the bauxite industry, because they understood the economic situation in Linden. Dr Ramsammy at Middle Road and Burnham Drive said that they would build a new, better and larger bridge alongside the present one in order to accommodate larger vehicles passing through Linden to and from Lethem and other interior districts. Lindeners are still awaiting the fulfilment of those promises and we expect them to be fulfilled. It is now ten months since the 2011 elections and all that Lindeners have seen is a protest which caused the death of three persons and injuries to many and many burnt buildings. The electricity tariffs which brought about the protest are an economic graveyard for Linden and its citizens, who are convinced that the government hasn’t done much to lift the standard of life in our town.
At the end of the protest, it was proven that a people working together for a good and common cause can be productive. For example, the removal of debris from the burnt One Mile Primary School was done in one day by hundreds of people who were there with tools and other equipment to begin the process of reconstruction.
Garbage collection and disposal is a very serious problem in Linden. Citizens are aware that the Mayor and Town Council is ill equipped to deal with the amount of garbage that has to be removed. As a concerned Lindener, I am suggesting a massive clean-up campaign organized by the RDC and the Mayor and Town Council, which should be described as working together for the preservation of Lindentown. It must involve the churches, business owners and their trucks, the GDF, contractors who operate in and pass through our town, also BOSAI. The drainage and irrigation (D&I) workers continue to clean drains and place garbage in bags which are left alongside the roads for very long periods, and quite often return to the drains. Coordinating the removal of garbage already in bags on the street should be of concern to our leaders. I only want the best for Linden of which I am a part. It’s time we stop throwing food boxes, plastic bottles, tins and garbage in general and speak out against people who indulge in this practice.
I came to Wismar, Mckenzie, Christianburg many, many years ago by way of the RH Carr ferry, which has given me the qualification to say we have retrogressed badly from what people my age were accustomed to. We had the cleanest drains and roads, best hospitals facilities, one of the best schools (Eccles High) and plenty of sports and games at the Mckenzie Sports Club ground.
Citizens of Linden, especially the young people, let us clean up, or no one will stay long or say thank you, or come again. We must become guards and protectors of our town.
Yours faithfully,
B Winslow Parris
