Chamber says project can help jumpstart Linden’s economy

Linden Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Deyoung is of the opinion that the imminent commencement of the construction of the first phase of the Linden to Lethem road will

significantly benefit Linden’s economy which he posits is currently at a standstill.

Deyoung said that businesses are suffering in Linden because of many factors and he is optimistic that things will turn around once the road is constructed. The change he said will come about from the very construction as many Lindeners are expected to be in the employ of the contractor.

Linden being dubbed the gate way to the interior will now be dubbed the gate way to Brazil and in extension South America which will open up avenues for development in a plethora of sectors including the tourism, agricultural, business, manufacturing and construction sector. “We see this road as a rebranding of Linden because the road opens Brazil and the rest of South America,” Deyoung said.

He revealed that many Caribbean companies have expressed interest in establishing business relations with Brazil but it is difficult and expensive in accessing the largest country in South America. With the construction of the road, these companies can access Brazil through Linden which will be cheaper and more so with the availability of a transhipment port located in Mackenzie and Region 10 having access to all three of the main rivers. “This is not only for Linden or Guyana but for the rest of the Caribbean because it is very expensive to go around getting to Brazil, gaining easy access to that economy will be a boost to any nation at this time, mostly Linden that is expected to be the turning point for Linden’s problems.”

Though the road will not answer all of Linden’s economic problems, it will alleviate several of these which will be advantageous to the retailers and small scale manufacturers. Deyoung expressed concern for the challenges being faced currently by the business owners who have raised it with the LCC out of frustration. “Just recently I was speaking to a shop owner and she explained that she does not even know how to stock her shop because she is afraid that her stocks will not sell.” Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle was pharmacy operator Elmo Austin who described business in Linden as frustrating and slow.

“Some days I go home not a cent, it is very very hard,” he said. Shonnette Seaforth a variety stall operator expressed similar frustration over the slowness in business since funds isn’t circulating within the town.
Deyoung believes that one of the deterring factor is the isolation as it relates to stake holders who are not working in unison for Linden’s progression. The RDC, MTC, NGO’s, Linden Enterprise Network, banking institutions and large companies he believes need to collaborate more for the betterment of Linden. “When that road is completed there is a lot that is expected to come to Linden and we feel that we need to prepare for what is to come.

” In addition to the road, Deyoung believes that the other two main areas that can contribute to Linden’s economic turnaround are tourism and agriculture. “Linden is blessed with blue water lakes, there are people from all around Guyana who have never seen this sort of thing. For Agriculture, there is land available, in West Watooka there is soil that produces one of the best cassavas I have ever eaten, if we are able to produce more in Linden rather than to import we would have more money circulating within Linden,” he contended.

Linden has been categorised as a prospective World Tourism Destination by a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The announcement was made at a recently held World Tourism Summit in Chonqing, China that was attended by Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland and Regional Chairman Renis Morian. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Mayor Holland said that he was amused to see Linden’s rich scenic beauty and natural picturesque landscape and majestic sandy hills being featured in the presence of international leaders.

Currently it was estimated that 70% of the food that is consumed in Linden, is brought into Linden and this has been a major concern for small scale farmers who have to compete with vendors selling produce from as far as Essequibo to retail vendors who support them because the price may be a little less. One West Watooka farmer Christopher John told the Guyana Chronicle that many of the sellers would purchase wholesale from the farmers coming out of the region rather than their own. “We here farming strictly organic and they buy fertilized stuff from people from outside rather than supporting their own,” John stressed.

In addition to this, there were calls for support to be given to small scale agro processors and manufacturers as this would aid in the circulation of money and the strengthening of Linden’s economy. In addition to this there are widespread calls for job creation within the town as employment rate is only 70%. With investment at a standstill and lack of government employment, several young people, though qualified are turning to security firms for employment. If this is not the case many are seen pulling beverage coolers selling water and juice in the main market arena.

Many young boys have also joined the Linden- Georgetown car route just to earn a dollar. With over 60 cars in addition to both mini buses and big buses plying the route, some of them may be fortunate to pull on trip which brings in $8000. Out of that $8000, they are expected to pay the owner of the car $5000 daily in addition to gasoline which cost minimum $3000 per trip.