By Vanessa Braithwaite
SEVERAL communities of South Mackenzie, Linden, have seen significant improvement in their aesthetics, all in an effort to bring them back to their former glory.

These communities, located in Constituency Two, include Richmond Hill, Fair’s Rust, Watooka and Noitgedacht, among others. They were once part of the upscale territory in Linden, during the earlier years of bauxite mining and had always had a residential image. In recent times; however, the image of South Mackenzie drastically declined and these community projects are aiming to bring them back to their former glory.

The community enhancement project is a self-help initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Mayor, Wainwright Bethune, who is also the chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) and the constituency representative.

The CDC is also collaborating with the Community Policing Group (CPG) to provide the needed help in beautifying these communities. The establishment of ‘green’ spaces in the communities which include a modern signboard surrounded by flowers and plants is top on the agenda. This is already completed in Fair’s Rust while Richmond Hill’s is about 90 per cent complete.

Another key project the South Mackenzie communities are benefiting from is land reclamation, which is in keeping with the country’s ‘green’ agenda. For many years, bauxite mining has left many of the communities with swampy and slushy areas.
Bethune noted that the overburden from the bauxite mining is used to reclaim these lands; thus, extending the boundaries of the communities. Residents can be able to use these reclaimed lands for farming and other empowering activities. Deputy Mayor Bethune related that all hands were on deck to source and back fill the overburden in these many swampy areas.

In addition to the abovementioned communities, Constabulary Compound and Industrial Area also benefited from land reclamation. Illegal dumpsites were also cleaned up in these areas. A play park in Fair’s Rust was also refurbished to include a ball field and a similar initiative will be done at Coomacka Mines in the near future.

Bethune said these community enhancement projects are as a result of consultation with residents who aired their concerns at monthly meetings, that the communities’ image needs to be improved. Bethune, who is serving his second term as a constituency representative, said his objective is to ensure development takes place.

“My objective is to work in each and every community in the constituency to ensure we have development throughout the entire constituency,” he said.

While funding from the council itself is limited, given its cash-strapped state, the deputy mayor posited that funds are being garnered from donations and other means.
Following the second Local Government Elections after more than 20 years, there is an evident renewed zest among councillors and residents to work together for the common good of their communities. Through consolidation, communities are benefiting from self-help projects which include drainage clearing, de-bushing, landscaping and the maintenance of road corridors.

Bethune is urging other constituency representatives to follow suit and to make the community their office.

“Your office is the community, in the streets, bottom-house meetings; prioritise on meeting the people, influence people in the community to work together with you, reach the people, listen to what they want and just be the motivation,” he said.
One resident applauded Bethune for his hands-on approach and for putting the needs of the residents first.

“We are happy to be working with someone who genuinely cares for his community and is working hard for betterment. So many changes in only weeks. I think he is doing a very good job,” the resident said.