PM Hinds joins in reminiscences, wishes for progress
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds said Sunday that Linden has weathered the worst and its people are taking it to great heights again.
He recalled that, 40 years ago, Linden was a bauxite town about to enter a period of great change and transformation.
“We have gone through some difficult times in Linden but I think, as I look around Linden today, it has been progressing and transforming itself and, as we look to the future, we can see a number of opportunities,” Mr. Hinds told the crowd at the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park, in Mackenzie, for the start of Linden Town Week.
He said bauxite is remaining in Linden but at a much less importance than it was before.
“But we have had wood and woodworking and agriculture taking hold in this area and a call centre which is now stabilised and growing. We have handicraft and, over the next couple of months and years, we will see a fibre optic cable coming from Lethem and passing through Linden.
“It will not only be passing through Linden but there will be a site here, from which businesses can get good telecommunication connection. Connecting to Linden also, we will see the transmission line for the hydropower passing through Linden,” Hinds said about how the township is progressing.
He, therefore, called on Lindeners to be prepared as those are opportunities of which the people of Linden must take hold.
“I assure the people that they will be given the maximum opportunity to take advantage of the developments that are taking place in Guyana, particularly those passing through Linden,” Hinds said.
Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, offered his congratulations to the people of Linden, said: “This town has been in the lead in many areas of social, economic and cultural activities over the years. We have given to the people of Guyana the celebration of Mashramani, which commenced here.
“And I am sure that many of us from Linden would know that we led the way when Eddie Herbert started the Mackenzie Fair which caused people from all over Guyana to travel, just to be there in those days,” he reminisced.
PIONEERS
While acknowledging the pioneers in the town, like its first Mayor, the late Egbert Benjamin and two others, who were present, Patrick ‘Gabby‘ Haynes and Ms. Evelyn Dodson, Corbin alluded to the fact that Linden Town Week has followed in that tradition and not only have people travelled there from all over Guyana.
“But we have Lindeners and friends of Guyana from all over the globe who have recognised the significance of this celebration and who have consistently come here every year to celebrate with us,“ he remarked.
Corbin challenged those gathered to acknowledge the efforts made by the Linden Fund U.S.A. in contributing to the success of the event and said he hoped the efforts would continue to inspire all those abroad to give support at home.
“Linden is undergoing a very challenging period but the success rests, significantly, on the quality of the people who live in it. The future lies in the hands of the people here and in the diaspora,” he posited.
Presidential Adviser, Mr. Odinga Lumumba also congratulated the Linden people the town’s 40th anniversary and agreed with the other speakers that it has had pressing times.
However, he said he wanted to point out that the history of Linden, in many ways, represents the backbone, the foundation of the people of Guyana.
“At one period of time in this country, sugar carried Guyana. Another time bauxite carried Guyana but not only did bauxite carry Guyana,  it was the type of individuals and personnel, the type of training in the field of engineering and technology that the bauxite industry gave to this country, the Adams and the Sam Hinds could not have been successful without the bauxite industry of Guyana,” Lumumba declared.
He contended that, because the bauxite industry meant so much, this government and any government that is worth its salt must ensure that Linden comes back to the prominence it once enjoyed.
“And we must do that,” Lumumba encouraged.
He said that the present Government of Guyana is proud to be supportive of Linden Town Week as he, as the conduit, is there to ensure that the Government meets its obligation to satisfy the importance of this activity.
Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Mr. Mortimer Mingo, also extended congratulations, felicitations and best wishes to all residents of Linden on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the township.
MILESTONE
He said the significant milestone must be celebrated as an achievement and challenge, as it provides the perfect foil to examine progress over the past years and plan for the development during the next four decades and beyond.
The week long celebrations will continue with several educational, cultural and sports activities across Linden through next Monday, under the theme ‘Uniting Cultures and Diversities of Men in 2010’.
Chairman of the Linden Fund U.S. A., overseas based Dr. Vincent Adams conceded that Linden Town Week is still to reach its full potential.
The featured speaker at the opening ceremony reflected that: “Over time, we have learnt quite a bit and we intend to utilise that learning experience to continue to progress and make this a bigger and better event.”
Adams remembered that Linden Town Week evolved from the Linden Town Day activity, which was started in 1996 under Norvell Fredericks, who mooted the idea to the Linden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, to help promote the town on its birth anniversary of becoming a town way back on April 29, 1970.
He said, from that 1996 Linden Town Day launch, he remembers standing there four years ago, talking about the ambitious step taken to move the occasion from the Linden Town Day to Linden Town Week.
“And it was really an ambitious step on our part as there was a lot of uncertainty. We didn’t know where we were going essentially,” he admitted.
Adams continued: “We had some very high expectations for ourselves and now we can reflect after, this, our fifth year. I will not be honest to myself and many if I say that everything did go perfectly, because it did not.
“But, over this period of time, we have learnt quite a bit and we intend to utilise that learning experience to continue progressing and making this a bigger and better event.”
Among those also at the opening was Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Linden, Mr. Orrin Gordon who welcomed the large gathering.
In his message, he said: “Linden’s transformation is assured when we dream, work and grow together. The year 2010 must be seen as the year when this ideal becomes a mantra in our development thrust.”