LINDEN Town Week (LTW) 2019 was officially opened on Sunday afternoon with a grand cultural extravaganza featuring dance, songs, drumming and other cultural items performed by sons and daughters of the mining town.

The opening ceremony marks the second of 11 days of events which forms part of a calendar with over 60 activities. This year marks the 23rd edition of LTW and coincides with the town celebrating 49 years of existence. It is being celebrated under the theme,

‘Rekindling our culture,’ and is hosted by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC).
The ceremony commenced with a grand military parade with participants from the joint services operating in Linden, who marched through Republic Avenue captivating crowds with their precision and poise.

LMTC Councillor and Coordinator of LTW 2019, Norville Fredericks, is the progenitor of LTW, which was once Linden Town Day. In brief remarks, Fredericks said that the idea was birthed out of Linden being able to showcase its social and cultural potential.

It was based on three pillars: economic, cultural and social. The first Linden Town Day was held in April of 1996 and received an overwhelming response. It then increased to a weekend of activities before becoming an entire week of activities. To date, LTW remains the most anticipated event of the year which draws hundreds of patrons from all parts of Guyana and the diaspora. The concept was also adopted by other towns in Guyana.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arindell in a short address, said that the cultural extravaganza and by extension LTW 2019, focuses on highlighting the talent of Lindeners, especially the youths, since there is so much yet to be discovered. “The aim is to bring out the talents we have in our own township; there are people who can sing, who can dance, who can write poetry, town week is for that time, for you to showcase that talent to the rest of the world,” she said. She encouraged Lindeners to fully participate in every event, especially those aiming to highlight local talent.

The highlight of the afternoon’s proceedings was the performance of two visually impaired brothers who sang their very own song, ‘Is Town Week Time Again.’ Seventeen-year-old Relon and 15-year-old Roell Sumner, of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, wowed the crowd as they showed that despite being visually impaired, they will soon be forces to be reckoned with in the local music industry. Local singer ‘Black Chiney’ also performed an original LTW song.

Other groups performed various songs and dances, all in an effort to highlight local talent.
LTW 2019 will end on May 1. Events throughout the week can be enjoyed by all groups of persons; young, old, children, sports fanatics, party-goers, Christians, fashion icons, etc.

On Monday, activities will kick in with a women in business seminar and Christians can enjoy a gospel fest, featuring international gospel artistes. Other highlights for the rest of the LTW 2019 are folklore, stories, poetry and art on Tuesday, Golden Taste Glow party and On-the-Spot Art on Wednesday; Big Man Gah Luck Party on Thursday; Rasville Breakfast on the Sand and Colour- themed party on Friday; Linden All Black Party; Caribbean Food Festival and Children’s Fest on Saturday and the Main Big Lime on Sunday.

In addition to these events, the week will be filled with sporting activities such as the Guinness in the Street, cricket, basketball and circle tennis competitions, as well as athletics; students will be involved in spelling bee, debating and essay competitions. There will also be exhibitions such as the Caribbean Food Festival, Restaurant Day throughout the week and agricultural exhibitions.