IN what was described as a candid discussion, residents of the community of Linden bravely voiced their concerns and issues with People’s National Congress Reform Chairman Basil Williams and other party executives.

The other executives were Minister of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valarie Yearwood; CDC Chairman Mortimer Mingo and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira. Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell, along with municipal and regional councillors, was also present.

Williams in his bid to meet the grassroot residents, were told of issues ranging from the aesthetics of the Upper Demerara Hospital, the lack of business and deplorable state of the Wismar Municipal Market, the administrational aspect of the Regional Democratic Council, among other issues at the meeting held at Harmony Secondary School.

Williams described the meeting as a fruitful one where solutions were brought to the fore and regional representatives were also reminded of their role to bring solutions to the very issues being raised. Williams, however, promised to take some of the concerns to the Cabinet level as well as with the central executive members of the PNCR where the need arises. Residents of Linden expressed the need for urgent intervention in dealing with the issues raised, especially those pertaining to their lack of trust with regional and local officials to carry out the roles they were elected to do. Residents voiced their concerns on the budgetary allocation not in any way being trickled down to the grass root level.
Other issues that were raised include the drainage and irrigation community project and the issues facing workers, late and underpayment by security guards, shortage of drugs at the Linden Hospital and late payments of contractors at the Regional Democratic Council. Linden residents left the meeting optimistic that the issues raised will be addressed.