This week we asked the man/woman in the street about their views on this year’s Linden Town Week, the return of the Linden Town Week pageant after a few years of hibernation under new organisers, and also Wismar having five nights instead of the regular two. Their comments follow:
Photos and interviews by
Tifaine Rutherford
Sadiq Gibbons, postman – ‘I would love to see more cultural programmes in terms of exhibiting different cultures. There needs to be a more educational aspect of town week implemented. I would really like to see improvements for tourists so that they will always feel welcome. I am not too fussy about the pageant because I am a Muslim and I don’t believe in women parading around a stage half naked. Town week lately hasn’t been all of that. Kashif and Shangai Town Week was the best one. The five nights is a good thing. Wismar people could get to showcase more of their talents.’
Mr Norris, bus driver – ‘Is bare stupidness going on. PPP cease town week like if it’s a political thing. Town week seems to no longer belong to people of Linden. I like the fact that the pageant is back. It’s a good that young entrepreneurs stepped up to host the pageant this year. I personally think that if you got things going on the Mackenzie shore then you shouldn’t have things being held on the Wismar shore.’
Lawrence Simon, mines officer – ‘I am glad that the pageant is back. It is a plus to the female gender in the community. I really feel that there should be more activities for the kids. I am family oriented and I would love to take my kids out; there is nowhere to take the kids. In my opinion, it is ridiculous to have five nights at Wismar. For me the whole town week is too long and drawn out. The cultural exhibits need to make preparations for attracting a wider audience. Another thing I want to see different this year is for them to separate the different stalls, eg, food stalls should be one place, games stall another. Everything shouldn’t be mixed up. They should also let Amelia’s Ward, Christianburg and Constab have their own day. There should be no competition. This committee needs to have a vision and a focus. How preparation going it is not comprehensible. Last year more stuff was going on this time. Less school events this year, we need more events for the school children.’
Gavin Primo, retired police commander – ‘Town week is worthy of note but there remains room for improvement. There seems to be some sort of discord. It needs to be a more coordinated event. The five nights are good in terms of promoting Wismar. To me, Wismar people feel less subordinate to Mackenzie people so this five nights is a great thing for them. Town week offers chance for people to be more creative. Linden is a basket of talent with wide assortments and it needs to be tapped into. I would have loved to see an educational competition such as the one Sagicor had. Because of the complexity, we need to go into the schools and tap into it.’
Amar Munroe, overseas-based Guyanese – ‘This is my first town week in a long time and I would really love to see a showcase of talent. Hopefully this year we see a lot more cultural stuff. I am not too fussy about the Miss Linden Town Week pageant I more like the Big, Bold and Beautiful pageant.’
Harita Tularam, private sector employee – ‘To me town week is not town week like before. When Kashif and Shangai held it, it was the best year. There were more activities and town week used to draw crowds from all over. It has gotten lame to me now. I would love to see more cultural exhibitions this year. I won’t be attending the pageant but I am glad that it has come back after two years.’
Tiffany Parris, student – ‘I think the town week in the whole is a good idea in terms of developing Linden. They need to have stuff for every age group. I plan on going and having fun with my family. I don’t go to the pageant but I heard it is really good.’
Earl McCalman, businessman – ‘I am going and I plan to have a lot of fun. This year looks like it is going to be bigger and better. I am going to go and support every event. I am glad that the pageant is coming back, I can’t wait for all the events.’
Mayfield Green, businesswoman – ‘The best Linden town week I ever went was the one that Fredco had when he came back from St Lucia years ago. That was the real Linden town week. Town week supposed to be about showcasing what Linden has to offer. The one Kashif and Shangai had that year was a good one. Even the children had something. The old people had their session. They take the old people out to Georgetown, they feed them, etc. They used to start with a church service, but now they move away from that, now it’s just partying and sporting. I feel it should be for just five days and it should be a packed programme. Seven days is too long and drawn out. Another thing is it should be just a Linden thing. You are seeing Georgetown people coming and fetch away things Linden have. When there is the Main Street Lime we can’t go and get spots there. I also feel they should really give back Kashif and Shangai or Fredco the town week.’
Vanessa Braithwaite, UG student – ‘I think Lindeners should use this highly anticipated Linden town week celebrations as a means of reflecting on their struggle during the Linden protest last year. That week should be used to show the rest of Guyana that Linden did not fall despite the great injustices shown to them. Lindeners are strong, united and determined people and this should be highlighted in their upcoming celebration. The theme: “Coming Clean in 2013” is a perfect example of illustrating that despite being dirtied by grief, pain, sorrow and injustice, Lindeners washed themselves clean of everything that tried to break them and will celebrate their transformation.’
