– despite internal fights from day one

OUTGOING Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, has said that despite some notable achievements, he had to fight to get things done, but he is leaving the helm of the municipality after two terms in office as a stronger more determined individual.
On Monday, he hosted a dinner to say thanks to those who supported him and also honour workers and other notable individuals. Holland will be officially handing over the keys to Linden to his current deputy Waneka Arindell at the end of the month but will still remain a councillor and the President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities.
An emotional Holland, spoke at the ceremony which saw in attendance several religious leaders such as Pastor John Smith; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall; Deputy Mayor of Bartica Nageswari Kamal Lochandprashad; members of the Linden Youth Leaders; students of several schools; officials of the Region 10 Department of Education; and members of the Christ the King Senior Citizen Club, among other invitees.

Holland said throughout his tenure, he would have achieved much for Linden and would have selflessly given all that he would have acquired from his mayorship and from his own pocket to many residents, students, institutions and employees of the Council. He also contributed to and supported many causes in the area of sports, community development, youth development and the elderly. The outgoing mayor spoke of receiving opposition from day one, which came from councillors, and in many cases he used reversed psychology to deal with the issues. ‘Those challenges just made me stronger…” Holland said, to an astounding round of applause.

Some of his noted achievements were making the council economically stronger which made workers happier, the reinstallation of the toll booth and the acquiring of more garbage trucks for a better garbage disposal system in Linden. “ They’re many things we had to fight for…it was the worst functioning town when I took over, now according to the financial indicators Linden is right among those at the top…Linden’s spiral is going up with little government support…and I must say I’m happy with where Linden is,” Holland said.
He expressed gratitude to the councillors who would have worked hard and supported him in what he described as a major turnaround for Linden. “Our councillors, they’ve worked hard and I must thank them…there are many things we had to fight for.”
Incoming Mayor Waneka Arindell in her tribute, thanked the mayor on behalf of the councillors for including her and teaching her along the way. “As a deputy mayor he would have really given me the privilege to learn a lot and to be involved in a lot and for that I am very grateful,” Arindell said. Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall asked Lindeners to keep Holland and the municipality of Linden in prayers.

A representative of Christ the King Senior Citizen Club speaking on behalf of the elderly, said that Holland was instrumental in putting a tent at the Post Office for pensioners to shelter when going to receive their pension. “We are very grateful for this, the senior citizens are very grateful, we would like to thank you very much,” he said.
The ceremony also saw Holland honouring several workers of the municipality with the Carwyn Holland Award, as well as journalists and other residents. Cash donations were given to Holland’s former schools including Blue Berry Hill Nursery, St Aiden’s Primary, Christianburg Primary and Mackenzie High School. Holland is Linden’s ninth mayor and was sworn in after the 2016 Local Government Elections.