IN an effort to transform and restore the mining town of Linden to its former glory, stakeholders recently joined hands in launching the Linden Restoration Project. Several community leaders who held reputable offices in the former days, particularly in the bauxite company, in collaboration with the Linden Youth Leaders are on a mission to bridge the generation gap between young and old by sharing much-needed knowledge and expertise to give Linden the boost it really needs. The team consists of former General Manager of Guymine, Regional Chairman and entrepreneur Steve Bovell, former Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo, former Interim Management Committee Chairman Orin Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Linden Electricity and Utility Company Emit Alves, Chief Executive Officer of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd., Horace James, Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland, representatives from the Linden Mayor and Town Council, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and several other persons from the diaspora.
Treasurer of the Linden Youth Leaders, Urlisha Obermulla, posited that the project aims to make Linden more attractive and to improve the educational, social and physical sectors of the town which will lure investors and thus create employment for youths. “We are happy that we can collaborate with mature minds, whereby we can come together and put our thoughts and ideas together where we could bridge the gap between the two generations to brand and promote Linden once again.”
Former IMC Chairman Orin Gordon said that it is necessary to bridge the gap and for all participants to get involved for the project to succeed. “The various segments are fragmented and doing their own little thing in their own little way…information should be free and available so that the younger folks should be able to apply it.” Gordon alluded to several infrastructural developments that are being done in Linden without the input of the many old engineers available in Linden. Similar sentiments were echoed by MTC Councillor Wainwright Bethune, who bemoaned the under-utilisation of many persons with the expertise in the technical field. “We have all of these qualified people who I think in my opinion are underutilised, we have all of these young people with great potential, but I think the hand of experience and qualification is needed…” he said.
Mingo for his part said that the town has taken its fair share of beating, but now has a government that is most receptive and friendly towards real and sustainable development in the region. “We must not squander that opportunity in putting forward proposals and to ensure that whatever you propose is being executed,” Mingo affirmed, adding that he does not want to be a part of another talk shop, but that “now is time for action.”
Former Regional Chairman and founder of Demerara Bakery, Mr. Steve Bovell, in his presentation stressed that Linden should not be poor as the town is fully endowed with vast natural resources, human resources and has geographical advantages being the gateway to the interior and being the capital of a region that is bordered by all three main rivers. Bovell said that Linden is ripe for investments, citing the advantages he derived in doing so. The entrepreneur contended that if more entrepreneurs invest in Linden, more money will be circulated in the town thus boosting the economy. Tourism, he said, if developed, will bring in significant income to the town as Linden has great potential in this industry. The youths were encouraged to bring back the annual Linden Arts and Music Festival, commence historical tours, develop a furniture- making industry and most importantly, expand the agricultural industry by growing our own food and getting involved in agro-processing. The youths were further encouraged to create an action plan for the various projects to be embarked on and to review their progress every month. The Linden Youth Leaders will be embarking on several activities in the upcoming weeks. One of these is the investment forum that is slated for the 28th and 29th November.