Dear Editor
The Ministry of Sports under Minister Charles Ramson has taken away the Mackenzie Sports Club from the People of Mackenzie, Linden. This happened at the behest of Kashif and Shanghai who have tried for decades to gain full control of that facility. The duo who have in the past been rejected by the people of Linden, would have manipulated some executive members of that historic sports venue to agree to the government’s taking over of it. Some executive members do not approve but the government has gone ahead with the bullying and has released a public statement claiming full ownership.
The government will build a modern sports facility there and that is welcomed but why wrestle ownership away from the people of Linden. It has to do with the PPP’s quest to dominate and control with the view of making the populace bow to them to be a part of any local and national processes where citizens will be held at ransom, punished and be shutout if their views, beliefs and conviction are not in line with those of the dictatorial regime. In the case of Linden, we have long known what the PPP’s social and economic agenda entails.
Linden is known for standing up to the regime but fear is being instilled in residents. They are hesitant to speak out openly because of fear of being victimised and targeted. Minister Ramson is now being called upon to give back ownership and control of the Mackenzie Sports Club to the rightful owners. It belongs to the people of Linden.
Ramson and his regime does not understand or will never appreciate the historical relationship the People of Linden have with that venue that was gifted to them. He has not sat in those pavilions as a school child cheering on our various schools’ athletes or enjoying the annual fair that is still etched pleasantly in our memories. He never spent his Christmas at the No Big Thing show or has he mourn the final viewing of friends, family and comrades who died under tragic circumstances in that town. He knows about his two PPP comrades football tournament and their undying allegiance to him and the PPP.
The General Secretary of the Mackenzie Sports Club, Mr. Joe Chapman, has promised to sit down with VOD TV to tell the Guyanese world about the government’s taking over of that facility. I hope he tells it all so our people can understand and decide if an injustice has been done to the people of Linden.
Sincerely,
Norman Browne
Social and Political Activist
