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Linden uncertain about LEAP’s successor

Jul 17, 2009 News

Major stakeholders in Linden, are worried that the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) which comes to an end on July 31, might not be able to execute any more projects, even though there is purportedly more than one million Euros still to be disbursed, and many projects that could be financed.
Interim Management Committee Chairman, Orrin Gordon, said that he is concerned that the entity might wrap up its operations, without financing key projects such as culverts and other infrastructural works on Burnham Drive, drainage and irrigation works on Blue Berry Hill, enhancing the Wismar riverfront, and establishing a landfill site at Kara Kara.
He pointed out that with the current financial climate; Linden needs all the help it can get.
Ambassador of the European Commission, Geert Heikens, in his address at the last Linden Town Week opening, said that LEAP had been given an extension by Government and the European Union to facilitate the completion of key projects, which had already begun.
LEAP was initially expected to wrap up operations by March 31st last.
Meanwhile LEAP’s international Project Manager, Kathleen Whalen, has confirmed that LEAP’s successor entity, which should have become operational by the end of June 2009, is now slated to begin operations by the beginning of next month.
This, she pointed out, was due to circumstances beyond LEAP’s control. She said that certain projects, which will not be completed by LEAP, would be handed over to its successor, the Demerara Enterprise Network.
The new entity will be operating on a smaller scale and budget, and will perform similar functions as LEAP but will not be responsible for infrastructural works, according to Whalen.
But IMC Chairman, Orrin Gordon, has said that he has no confidence in the successor entity, and thinks that enough has not been put in place to ensure Linden gets what it deserves.
Gordon said that he was also told that the recently rehabilitated bandstand would come under the control of the new entity.
He said that Council is totally against this as the bandstand has always been under the Council’s control.
Since its inception LEAP has been able to assist in the creation of some employment opportunities. The entity has also supported the rehabilitation of infrastructural projects such as Guyana’s first industrial incubator at Kara Kara, Linden, in the old Guyana Stores building aback of the Toucan Call centre.
The industrial incubator is a spin off of LEAP’s business incubator on Republic Avenue, which has served to help develop small businesses in Region Ten.
Although Lindeners generally acknowledge and applaud LEAP for what they have accomplished over the years, especially in the area of infrastructure, many persons feel that more could have been done to create employment opportunities. (Enid Joaquin)

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