By Naomi Marshall

OVER the years, Linden has been mostly known for its bauxite and is even called ‘The mining town of Linden’ as a result of this reputation. However, one young man believes and is determined to prove that Linden is not just a town filled with red mud.

“Linden has unique landscapes: beautiful white sand hills, amazing mountain top views, pure overhead springs as natural showers, fresh clear water springs, natural fruits and berries along immense sand plains, ideal camp-out and cook-out spots and of course outstanding natural blue lakes yet to be explored in all its glory,” Deon Anderson said. “The exquisite creeks and lakes in Linden create the perfect combination of opportunities for lovers of nature, sport, adventure, outdoor fun and incomparable quality time for families, couples, groups and friends, all at no significant cost.”

Anderson, a Chemical Engineer by profession, is a young man who can be best described as completely outgoing, a nature lover, a fan of adventure and one to always capitalises on the simple moments, making them into unforgettable exciting experiences.
It was in 2010, while on vacation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica that this young nature lover developed a natural love for water used for recreational activities.

“Jamaica, like most Caribbean islands I have visited, has some of the most amazing vacation spots if you love to swim, climb against waterfalls or even swim with dolphins, it’s a vacation haven. So I began to fall in love with nature all over again,” Anderson noted.
In August 2011, the young Lindener started working with the Guyana Water Inc. as a Chemical Engineer attached to the laboratory.

In his curiosity to know more about water treatment and water quality, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Water and Wastewater Engineering in England, which resulted in him being promoted to Head of Water Quality at Guyana Water Inc. Inspired by opportunities for transformation and improving livelihood in Guyana, he is presently completing his Doctor of Philosophy in transformational leadership, a field of study that Anderson thinks is much needed in this country.

HIDDEN GEM RIGHT IN LINDEN
Recently, his curious mindset led him to stroll along a clay road in Linden, which “seemed to lead to nowhere of significance,” however he proceeded along the unknown path.

“To my pleasant surprise, I stumbled upon what many would call a “Gem”, an untouched breathtaking, photo-capturing moment. This was the Kara-Kara Blue Lake. For a moment I felt as if I were in Antigua or Barbados or at least one of the tourist destination islands, literally, for this picturesque scenery mirrored exactly what some have only seen in magazines, movies and postcards. It was unlike any other creek I have visited in Linden, the rushing yet calm waves of the water, whistling birds in the background, soft caressing breeze over my face and the fine sand between my toes. It was as if I was on some other island in the Caribbean, I literally pinched myself,” he said. “My ideas were running wild as I filled my hands with the famous “fat-poke” an incredibly tasty fruit unique to Linden’s terrain,” expressed Anderson as he described his experience.”

This breathtaking experience led him to plan a family vacation at the location which turned out to be a moment of extreme tourism.
“This beach-like landscape was perfect for my vacations, so a few days after I decided to go in search of some Kayak Boats and Jet skis – a spur of the moment idea- just to have this beach all to myself. Luckily I got the kayak boats and I took my family on an on-the-spot vacation,” he said.

“To my surprise, it was extremely amazing, beyond what we expected, to the extent that we literally did not want to leave. [People] began to flood Facebook, my call log and inbox began to full up very fast, it was sensational. Just a simple spur of the moment idea with my family, it grew into a moment of extreme tourism, this is the power of Linden’s Sceneries.”

TOURIST DESTINATION POTENTIAL
“So my question is, why is Linden still not a tourist destination, with all of these natural beauties for sites? I think it is time, yes, it is time for a resort to be developed in Linden where scores of persons can experience high-class fun at low-cost prices,” he noted.

CONCERNS ABOUT CHEMICALS
Should you be worried about the chemicals in the water? As a chemical engineer, Anderson says absolutely not, noting that he can attest to the safety of the water for recreational uses.

According to Anderson, recent chemical analyses have been carried out on water samples taken from this site which showed that the water is completely free of heavy metals such as mercury, copper, cadmium and lead and very soft water.

To further verify this, he has teamed up with two final-year Medical Technology students at the University of Guyana, who will be assessing the water quality in comparison to other water sources over several months and comparing these findings to international guidelines for recreational waters.

He noted that these results will be made available in the public domain so that persons can rest assure of the safety of the water. Laboratories that will be used include; The Institute of Applied Science and Technology, GuySuCo, and the University of Guyana ( UG) among other certified laboratories.

“Currently, all results indicate so far, safe water for recreational use. Even if persons are still worried (which there is no need to be), the kayaking experience is still an amazing option that allows you to experience Linden like you have never done before, and the best part, you don’t even have to get wet to kayak,” said Anderson.

He added, “I truly believe that life is a continuous vacation and as such, you should celebrate every moment, and when you do, just add a bit of class and finesse.”