Linden Town Day founder proud of how event has evolved

Norvell Fredericks is the man behind the signature Linden Town Day event, which eventually turned into the Linden Town Week. This year, the event has now been extended to 13 says of fully packed activities which will see people journeying from all parts of the country to the mining town.

He is a councillor and a businessman who is also a community-based activist, always willing to assist the community in many ways.

Fredericks is a native of Retrieve Village in McKenzie, Linden, and had spent 11 years in Trinidad and Tobago and in St Lucia before returning to Guyana.

In 1996 he petitioned the council meeting for a hearing, where he asked that a day be set aside for Linden Town Day to showcase and highlight the culture and way of life of the people.

His idea was accepted by the then committee and it became the Linden Town Day which eventually morphed into a week of activities.

This year, the 13-day event will feature a variety of attractions for patrons.

Fredericks is of the view that Linden is the heartland of Guyana and should gain such prominence. With its rich history coupled with the culture and talent of the people, it is a place of all nationalities that complement the scenic landscape.

Giving a little insight into the history of McKenzie, Linden, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that McKenzie comprises Fair’s Rust, Nottinghamshire, Noitgedacht, Watooka, Richmond Hill, Old England (Siberia), Bamia, Amelia’s Ward, Kara Kara, Rainbow City, Retrieve, Speightland, Central McKenzie, Constabulary Compound and Industrial Area.
“Linden needs to be promoted to go national …anything is easier to start here than in the city and people will pull things off in Linden faster,” he said.

Fredericks added that the Linden Town Week was his brainchild and he is happy to see that it has evolved and he is also the creator of Creole Fest, which started in 2004 to unite the people of all races.
He related that as a people, we have more similarities than others farther afield, because of our unique heritage and it is our suspicion of each other that creates a difference and causes issues.

Fredericks is a small-business owner who has a restaurant opposite Courts, in McKenzie, which started out as Wings and Wedges and came out of a photo studio.
This Lindener is a photographer and with the advent of advanced technology, and the use of smart phones a lot of people stopped having their photographs taken professionally. As such, that business died silently.

Fredericks stated that he had to earn and started a small food business in 2013 and now he is going into making pizza, roasted barbeque and gyros.
He is looking at setting up a food van by the roadside for customers’ convenience and he now provides employment for two people.
Fredericks is also the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Linden.