President David Granger made a lightning visit to Linden yesterday and received an enthusiastic welcome at all three locations where he walked and mingled with throngs of residents.
The visit, which was only announced yesterday morning, came just a day after Stabroek News reported Chairman of the Linden Interim Management Committee Orrin Gordon as voicing disappointment at what he perceived as the slow pace at which the new government is moving to address certain critical issues that are affecting Linden.
His first stop was at the busy Amelia’s Ward/Wisroc Bus Park in front the Mackenzie Municipal Market around 4pm, where he was greeted by Regional Chairman Rennis Morian, Deputy Regional Executive Officer Maylene Stephens, the three Region Ten Members of Parliament Sandra Adams, Audwin Rutherford and Jermaine Figueira, along with Region Ten Councillors, including Vice-Chairman Elroy Adolph, Douglas Gittens, Lawrence Hackett and Denise Belgrave.
Even as the president was being greeted by the Region Ten officials, a crowd of elated, adoring supporters converged during the busy rush hour. Many had been awaiting buses to the respective wards of the town. They sought to shake his hand and hug him and several women demanded his embrace for photos taken by the plethora of photojournalists and amateur photographers present.
The president led the clamouring throng on a 15-minute walk from the Amelia’s Ward/Wisroc Bus Park along the Republic Avenue pavement to the Greenheart Street junction, embracing supporters and shaking hands along the way.
He then boarded his vehicle and was sped off to his next stop at Blueberry Hill on the other side of the river, where he spent another fifteen minutes mingling with residents of that community before moving to the third location, One Mile, where he was again met by adoring supporters in the vicinity of Bobby Noel’s Hardware and MoneyGram establishment.
While at Blueberry Hill and One Mile, Granger informed his audiences that he had been busy immediately after assuming office with diplomatic matters, particularly the Venezuela claim to Guyana’s territory, along with other pressing issues. As a result, he said he had been unable to travel to Linden to thank the electorate of the community for their overwhelming support at the May 11th polls. He said he realised time was passing by so he decided to make a quick trip to let Lindeners know that he cares for the community and appreciates the support the coalition received at the polls. He promised to visit the community in October, when he would spend a longer time and listen to the concerns of the residents.
Although the new government received overwhelming support from the Region Ten district at the recent polls, Gordon’s statement signaled frustration at the treatment it has received since by the new administration.
“After all these months have passed [there has been] no direct discussion on Linden … although we have written asking them,” Gordon told a statutory meeting of the Linden Town Council.
“It looks like the road is going to be a hard road. I’m making it clear to you. It’s not going to be easy. If you want anything come to Linden, you have to fight for it. You’re not sitting down and getting it easily. You got to work and you got to fight for it,” he added.
