Dear Editor,
It gives me great pleasure to say that I’m so proud to visit my homeland again. First of all, I had so much fun meeting the many friends I haven’t seen for a while as well as my family. There are some folk who left Guyana years ago and never went back for some reason. I think that’s wrong. There’s no reason for you not to visit your home country. Anyway, the point I want to make is that the people in Linden are so friendly and their hospitality is the greatest in the world. While I was there in December 2012-January 2013, I was back and fro between Linden and New Amsterdam, and I noticed a vast difference between them. For example, in New Amsterdam I saw so many children on the streets at night begging for money. I’m talking about children well dressed, not homeless looking, and in the case of some of them as I got to understand, their parents had sent them out to do so. They are also destructive, breaking up bottles and throwing stones at the less fortunate who are disabled.
I remember the police cracked down on mini-buses playing loud music. That’s good and the situation has improved a lot, but in New Amsterdam the cars have taken over. You would believe it’s a moving disco passing; you can hear the boom boom from a long distance away. I was so upset also to see the speed they’re driving at on Main Street, and that they park on the wrong side of the road facing the opposite direction. The police presence was always there, but they did nothing.
Then I couldn’t believe that they still have blackouts. Imagine in 2012 the water authority still disconnects the flow of water on a regular basis. At 12pm the water has gone, then it comes back at whatever hour. The government should treat these wonderful people better; they pay their rates and taxes too.
The road from New Amsterdam to Corriverton is the best in the country; while going up there, I counted only one pothole. The Linden Highway is too bumpy; it needs upgrading. That can cause accidents and we can lose loved ones and friends.
On a positive note, New Amsterdam has developed to a great extent; it’s beautiful. Lots of fancy cars and buildings and nice people.
I wish all my fellow Guyanese good health and strength for this New Year 2013.
Yours faithfully,
Collie Allen (Shrimpy)
