THE Linden community of Victory Valley came alive yesterday, Friday, with the commissioning of a community play park by President David Granger, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally and Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes.

The play park for children which was donated by Dr. Hardat Singh and Annie Narine is situated aback of the community centre. Almost the entire community came out to what was a historical event and didn’t fail to express their appreciation to the donors, as well as the President and his Government, for turning their attention to their community that was deemed a ‘ghetto’.

President Granger in his address to the crowd said that this time is Victory Valley’s time. “This is a special day for Victory Valley….pride has come back into the Valley…today is a time for Victory Valley,’ he exclaimed.

His Excellency affirmed that community development such as this symbolises empowerment, made possible by Local Government elections which occurred in 2016.
“This little park here symbolises empowerment…..people are now seeing that their communities have started to live, this is a living community where people interact with each other,” His Excellency said.

President Granger encouraged the residents to see the venture as a start of tourism development, not only in the community but in Linden and Region 10.

The residents were encouraged to plant trees and have animals on display to attract tourists, which will also add to the economy of the community. “We now have the option of attracting friends to add that private attraction of the community participation….this is for people outside and inside to work for the common good, we now have the opportunity to develop our communities as tourist destinations, let us make not only Linden but the whole of Region 10, a destination for tourist.”

He added, “I see this play park in being the first step in opening more play parks in more communities, in Kwakwani, in Ituni and other parts of this great region. This play park is starting to make you think of all sorts of economic possibilities, to make Linden a tourism hub for other parts of the country and other Guyanese. This is a happy day for me, not because of a handing over, the giving of a small park but because it is starting to make you think of what else could be done in the rest of this country.” The President said that the play park is a blessing and it is a happy day for him as it is for Victory Valley.
Minister Amna Alley noted that during a previous outreach, the residents expressed the need for a play park and today that need has been made a reality. “Now, today I am here to deliver,” Ally said.

Chairman of Victory Valley’s Community Development Council, Anthony Roberts, expressed appreciation for not only the play park but for every other infrastructural development that has occurred within the space of months. Special thanks were extended to Minister Simona Broomes for playing an integral role in transforming Victory Valley into a recognised community.

In addition to the play park, the community recently gifted with three bridges, a fenced community centre ground, street lights, an ICT hub, and also benefited from food and clothing distributions.