By Vanessa Braithwaite

IN WHAT has been deemed a democratic renewal for the people of Linden after 22 years of waiting, 16 new councillors were sworn to serve the municipality of Linden even as born-and-bred Lindener Carwyn Holland was elected Mayor.His deputy is Waneka Arrinde. They both ran for proportional representation seats under the APNU+AFC coalition. The 14 other councillors unanimously elected the duo for the position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Holland, reportedly the first mayor to be born in Linden, will serve under the 11th council. The new Mayor expressed gratitude to the APNU+AFC administration for holding Local Government Elections which afforded him the opportunity to serve his town in his new capacity.

“Thank you for returning local democracy and self-determination to the Guyanese people and the people of Linden…this is a liberating day for our people,” he posited.

The town, Holland said, will now be able to plan and pursue its own unique path of development. And Holland has promised to collaborate with strategic stakeholders, including Central Government, the RDC and the business community, to make this a reality.

He pledged to be a servant-leader for all Lindeners, and to retransform Linden into the great town it was before.

“Linden can be great again…our town was renowned for possessing the best of resources, a wealth of assets that drew many to the mining town,” he reminisced. This, he said, was changed after the town was marginalised by the previous administration.

His council will focus on stimulating the economy to create jobs; encouraging, inviting and enticing investors, and strengthening the education and health sectors, among other things.

Holland thanked his predecessors for bringing the council to its current status, and for the progress they have made.

“We will build on the progress you have made, and take the baton and lead this town further up the path of development to new horizons,” he said.

His Lordship Carwyn Holland thanked members of his family; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who mentored him in politics; Minister Valarie Patterson for her guidance; Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Sandra Adams for leading the campaign with perfection; his colleagues for placing their trust in him; and finally, the people of Linden, for voting solidly for the coalition.

MUST LEAD
“Linden must be a town in which families can live in peace and prosper as strong families; build strong communities; strong communities build strong townships, strong townships build strong regions, and strong regions build a strong country. Linden must lead other towns, and the people of Linden will be prosperous. Together we will move forward in unity, together we will build Linden from township status to city status. God bless the people of Linden,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Waneka Arrinde, in her address, said she was very humbled to be elected to the position, and understands that the position is one of servanthood.
She promised to work along with the Mayor and fellow councillors to effectively, efficiently and sacrificially do her tasks to make sure no one is left behind.

Minister in the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Patterson, said she was proud and thankful that a woman was given the position of Deputy Mayor. She believes that the councillors are among the best of the Linden crop, and is confident they will serve the people well.

She urged Lindeners to support the councilors, rather than ridicule them. “They will make mistakes along the way, and they will learn from their mistakes; but our responsibility is to give them a hand of support, not to push them down,” she said.

Former IMC Chairman Orin Gordon said he is a happy man to give up his chair, as he was asked to serve in the capacity for one year. That one year extended into 13, and he is now happy to see democratic renewal in Linden and Guyana as a whole.

He advised the councillors to remain strong, as criticism will come, but he said they should not allow criticism to suppress them.

The other 16 councillors are: Leroy James, Lennox Casper, Eleze Hall, Wainwright Betune, Colin Anderson, Keeran Williams, Fern McKoy, Neola Rogers, Devin Sears, Rawl Friday, Nikeza Noel, Derron John, Deryck Collins and Looma Mosely.