LINDENER Ms Tracy Gibson told several persons braving bleak weather conditions last Sunday night at the Linden/Georgetown Minibus Park: “Let us explore what things can unite us, instead of belabouring those problems which divide us!” Walking the path of those who, over the past 17 years, have spoken at these auspicious occasions, the attorney-at-law, as guest speaker at the official opening ceremony of the Linden Town Week, so reasoned with her fellow Lindeners in the presence of Prime Minister Sam Hinds; Leader of the Opposition, retired Brigadier David Granger; Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon; Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green; Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gregory Dean; and Chief Executive Officer of the Linmine Secretariat, Mr Horace James.
A born-and-bred Lindener who is now Director at the Bank of Guyana, Ms Gibson was most likely aware of the challenges which pervaded this year’s opening, and which were highlighted by the notable absence of Interim Management Committee Chairman, Orin Gordon and councillors from both the Linden municipality and the Regional Democratic Council.

Under the theme ‘Coming Clean in 2013’, she continued to reason with her fellow Lindeners as follows: “Today, I say that successful towns are likely to be driven by people who are passionate and creative, who see opportunity and go for it. We need a community with an active get-up-and-get spirit.”

She emphasised that “the world today is very different nowadays. Guyana is now different as well. Linden is different. And yet the same adventurous streak which attracted our forebears to this town still prevails elsewhere.

“We must not forget today that we are the inheritors of those that came before us. Pass the word from this time and place to friends and all else that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Lindeners, tempered by adversity, disciplined by a hard and bitter reconciliation, proud of our heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the undoing of those rights to which we have always been committed, and to which we are committed today.

“Let everyone know that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship to assure the survival and the success of our town.”

Ms Gibson had earlier recalled that “the town continues to shape our history as it evolves through these unique adventures.”

She lamented that forty-three years after, the world, Guyana, and specifically Linden, are a far cry from what they were first known to be. At the peak of the bauxite industry, Guyana became the world’s second largest producer of bauxite, accounting for 17 percent of world production, she noted, but said, “Today we are a town beset by challenges and troubles, but we cannot allow those obstacles to discourage us from achieving our goals. There is no way back to the past. Only a dreamer can believe that the solution lies in recreating the past in some way or other.

“Our main task going forward is something else — a radical renewal of our sense of responsibility,” she declared.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, in his own inimitable style, had detailed what Government has been doing for the town. He said the town has been treated equally with others across the country, as efforts are being made to develop industries other than the bauxite industry to provide economic development in the town.

Opposition Leader, David Granger gave a historic perspective of what 2013 meant to Guyana, and particularly to Linden, as he called for more meaningful assistance for the development of the town.

Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon also called for more scope for employment and development for Linden, as he asked that the people of Linden give their support to the people at Hururu, up the Berbice River, who are now experiencing difficulties with Rusal, owners of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), which operates in the Upper Berbice River.

Linden Town Week Chairman, Eon Halls declared the event open. It will last for just over one week. Earlier, there was the traditional march past along Republic Avenue, led by the Linmine Drum Corps, which included the Linden Scouts, the Seventh-Day Adventists Pathfinders and the Linden Dream Team. The salute was taken by Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, Ms Gibson and Mr. Halls.

There were also cultural items and the delegates for the Big, Bold and Beautiful Pageant, which takes place this evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, were on display.

The Republic Bank and Digicel rewarded with prizes the top Grade Six Assessment and CSEC students for the past year.