THE contract for the first phase of Linden’s river front development project has already been put out for tender and should be awarded soon, according to Region 10 Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon.

He noted that $60M has been estimated for the entire project which will be done in phases. The first phase will be completed in 2019 and $10.5M has been allocated for its completion. This includes cleaning up the river beds and placing piles on the beds to break the flow of the water, in addition to reinforced concrete.

Gordon said that the project is an answer to a call made by President David Granger to see all towns develop their river front, as was done in Bartica. He said that this project will be highly beneficial to Linden, since it is a unique town – the only one with a river passing through; hence there is a river front on both the eastern (Mackenzie) and western (Wismar) shores. This he said will promote the beauty of Linden.
Regional councillors were shown an artist’s impression of what the river front project would look like.

President Granger had made a call to local officials, during a presentation at Victory Valley Linden, to have the river front developed, more so on the western shore. “I would like to see, all of these waterfronts developed, so that young people could go strolling at night safely, with solar lights, good food, music…and I would like to see this western shore like a boulevard…every town in Guyana must have a boulevard, full of beautiful trees so that young people can enjoy the environment,” President Granger had said.

Linden will now have a chance to showcase its river and eco-tourism potential when the project is completed. Both shores currently sport the boat landings and some small-scale business huts. The river front on the Mackenzie shore was in the past given a boost by the Linden Mayor and Town Council, but things have fallen apart since then.