Linden has the ability to significantly advance beyond this irritating situation

Nov 29, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
A depressed community, a town that has fallen on hard times, the once prosperous mining town; these are a few of the phrases that are now attached to the sentences of some who endeavour to describe the town of Linden.
Long before the global economic melt-down (2008-2009), Linden has been struggling with its own economic crisis; so maybe this can be considered as economic crisis “to the second power”.
This multiplied economic strain has left its trail of social devastation on the people of the town, with unemployment being its number one target; in the months gone hundreds have lost there jobs, and maybe more in the months to come.
This situation has also resulted in armies of youths, aimlessly marching through our streets and crowd our public places with nothing to do; for which I am sure the majority would like to contribute in a meaningful way, towards the town’s development.
I have been reading with interest the arguments being advanced by Mr. F. Skinner and Mr. Lincoln Lewis, as to whether social or political activism will bring about the desired developments that are so badly needed.
In my opinion, their arguments represents “two sides of the same coin”, as only with the aggressive application of both can these desired developments be achieved.
So how can hope be restored and prosperity regained? Of course there are no simple answers to the many questions, as to what should be done to propel Linden beyond its present condition.
However what is needed on both sides of that “coin” is a more committed willingness at finding these answers. The Linden economic advancement programme (LEAP), which should have been able by now to find most of these answers and advance the town beyond or this present position, continues to receive mixed reviews, with some questioning its future, and at best could be described as a beautiful blur, as many of these questions remain unanswered.
Their should be no mistaking about the potential of Linden’s ability, to significantly advance beyond this irritating embarrassing situation, for which this once economically proud town now finds its self.
The Bosai billion-dollar investment is indeed welcoming, but the present global investment climate will most certainly put this investment on pause, which will result in its long delayed implementation.
However the road to Brazil if better understood by the citizens of the town, and carefully exploited for its endless possibilities, will ensure positive advancements of the town, and create some much needed jobs, (construction of the road itself will allow for immediate job creation).
But the town has the ability to economically exceed beyond job security; with Copenhagen looking like an anti-climax for Guyana, some serious consideration should now be given to the report that was prepared by a group of top German and local experts, which suggests that region #10, for which Linden is the “capital”, could be developed into a green, low-carbon city, the first of its kind in this hemisphere, which could accommodate agro-industrial complexes, among other major economical developments, while maintaining its ability to facilitate the proposed Bosai investment.
The region (Linden) was identified as the most suitable, for future developments on a sustainable, environmentally sound basis and also best for the expansion of the country’s economic base, with its proximity to all of the country’s natural resources.
This report which was put together almost a decade ago, between 1998-2003 still holds much relevance today, and would not only allow for job security but financial security, but only with a committed willingness from both sides of that “coin” will this be possible.
Achieving financial security for the town must not be looked at as a hopeless dream; instead it must be seen as an exciting opportunity for the people of Linden to pursue.
Sharma Solomon

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