A SENSE of unity was evident as over 125 Lindeners showed up to do self-help work at the launching of what is termed the ‘Modernisation Project’ of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC), last Sunday.

They included regional councillors from the various political parties namely the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic, People’s National Congress, Alliance for Change and the Working People’s Alliance, various sports associations and clubs, youth, sport and social organisations and residents who have a yearning to see the ‘rebirth’ of the MSC as one of this country’s premier recreational institutions.
Commitments and pledges for logs and building materials have been given by Bai Shan Lin and the Loggers Association of Region Ten.
The ‘Modernisation Committee’ which was formed to spearhead this unique effort with the Executive Committee of the MSC, is chaired by Linden businessman Phillip Bynoe and among those in the mix are Chief Executive Officer of the Linmine Secretariat Horace James, who is the treasurer for the Modernisation Committee, and president of the Mackenzie Sports Club Avery Trim and secretary Robert Langevine.
Following what was a successful day one for the project which is intended to transform the structure, built in 1956 by the Demerara Bauxite Industry for the communities in this sprawling town, Bynoe quipped, “We have cleared down, we have been able to do measurements for the roof in the main pavilion and by mid-week we are going to get the quantities, so that by this weekend, between Friday and Saturday we will have received those materials to do the ceiling for the entire downstairs, also the electrical items and we want to install some more fans in the roof of the dressing rooms.
“So we are going to work on Saturday and Sunday and by the afternoon of Sunday at this time we want to have installed all the ceiling and the entire roof.
“Only recently the zinc roofing in a large section of the main MSC pavilion was lost and remains exposing spectators at events to the weather and which also is targeted for repairs in this first phase of reconstruction.”
Bynoe, never at a loss for words noted, “I will tell you what you did by your presence. “You demonstrated that positive thinking and positive thoughts about the community in which you live is better than the negative thinking, and those who say ‘don’t go nowhere’.
“I am going to assure you that when this sports club is finished and when we put in the fancy seats and we finish the roof, every single Llindener will take pride in this facility. It will be a facility second to none.”
The sometimes controversial logger continued, “Don’t worry with the naysayers. Don’t worry with them. We are going to do this, by our own sweat we are going to do this. And all those who thought nothing good can come out of Linden and all those who thought that Linden could only picket and bruk down and burn up, you must prove them wrong. You must let them know that Linden is a glorious town. It is the best town in Guyana and whatever is happening to us we shall rise like the phoenix from the ashes.”
The self-help Modernistion Project will continue this weekend and the committee is calling for especially persons with certain skills in construction like carpenters, electricians and pipe fitters to turn up.

(By Joe Chapman)