Will Lindeners see a distinctive qualitative change in the functions of the various administrations?

Feb 24, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The year 2010 has come upon us in like manner as every other community across our country, but what I think is the distinguishing factor between us and other communities is the difference in the luggage of yesterday which we have brought over to 2010 and must be attended to. This is the task/responsibility which lies in the hands of the region’s top functionaries.
Will Lindeners see a distinctive qualitative change in the functions of the various administrations that is satisfactory to its citizen? Or would the complaints, irregularities, sloppiness, uncaring and in some cases unprincipled and incompetence be permitted to foster?
I cannot say, but it is all left to be seen. However, I want to make a plea that we the community endeavour to honestly work together for the benefit/sake of all; that we shelve some of the negative unproductive infighting for 2010; that those in leadership role take a new oath to really serve all residents and be less self-serving; that we adopt a much more principled and honest outlook, and a less antagonistic approach when possible in addressing issue/problems, and that those in authority exhibit a much more open and mature disposition to criticism – “to thine own self be true…”
While most things are possible and can be accomplished, it stands to reason that as a community those very things may never be attained if we continue in our selfish ways. Too many of us are all lost and wrapped up self, very few sincerely care about the community and only become concerned when they are directly affected by whatever hinders the personal development/upward mobility. We see this daily, it’s so glaring. I need to admit that there are genuine and decent people who would tell me of the wrongs, ugly situations, injustices etc, and I would try very hard to be impartial and objective as much as possible to ventilate those issues and those that I personally observed and experienced.
Yet there are those who forever with a skewed view of things who delight themselves in conveniently making thundering noise, shouting from the top of a mountain when things, do not favour them, while at the same time there is loud silence on their part in the face of the many wrongs, unfairness and irregularities perpetrated against the small ordinary people who have grown frustrated with no one to address their problems.
While those who selectively talk about wrongs seem not to care one hoot – in fact some of these practices are even aided and abetted by them, since invariably they benefit from “draw-backs” through these crooked schemes/activities. This I find rather disgusting and hypocritical. We cannot have it both ways, a stand on principle must be taken – when is a thing right, when it is wrong? We cannot see justice wearing blinders.
Yes there are many wrongs within our community, unfair and hurting to many simple, decent people, which must be corrected/stopped, but not until we shed our selfishness, speak up as a matter of right/wrong individually and collectively with one voice, only then will we serve our community meaningfully and help to effect change for betterment.
A few observations:
Drains: Is it so difficult to find all the culverts and have them cleared so that our drains can function better? Why must half an hour of heavy downpour cause drains, road/streets to flood, an irritating inconvenience to all but more so pedestrians; why can’t we have drains properly clean and the stuff immediately removed instead of dumping and remaining on the side only to be washed back in a day or two?
The main drains behind Linden Bus Park Fence:  This is most scandalous, nothing could be more health threatening than this stagnant water a perfect dump/breeding site for diseases, where are health and sanitation authorities who are in charge of this community?
Weeding gangs: The supervisors of the various weeding gangs should be dismissed if they cannot see to it that their workers do a decent and proper job, too many people are complaining about the sloppiness in which the work is done.
Damon Avenue: this street – formerly Henderson Road and renamed in honour of the rebel slave who led a uprising in Essequibo has been reclaimed by nature – a somewhat ironic booster to the LCDS since it is not environmentally friendly, this street is virtually abandoned, almost half of it is taken over by bushes, trees and a mound form from dumping garbage, the other half has been reduced to a narrow track, only from one end can you enter (walk). It is a sorry spectacle, you have to see it to believe, most outrageous, most abominable. Only God knows what is holding back the people living in that street from rising up like Damon. But the residents of Damon Avenue, must share some of the blame, have they been dumping the garbage themselves or have been allowing others from elsewhere to do so.
Kwakwani Road: A supervisor who was working on the Linden- Kwakwani Road during last year became furious with me for writing about the dreadful condition of the road as I experienced some months ago, he then boastfully beseech me to “go and see it now”. But the people of kwakwani are complaining that the road into their community was never touched, it is in the same ragged condition; only from Arorima to Ituni was done. Who then peddled the lie that the road was done throughout Linden to Kwakwani? Traffic: The traffic department in Linden should never find it difficult to have things done, why then do they make it appear so? Repainting of signs/speed limit, humps where needed and blind turns; there is a jungle at the end of Dagerrad Avenue, turning into Parson’s road NIS (back road) pitch dark at nights obstructing vision.
The same at Greenheart Street/Harder Road, I see nothing wrong with replacing the concrete wall of the basketball court with wire mesh so that one can see at a glance around the bend. There is danger in waiting at that corner.
Linden State of the art Hospital Complex:
This one I will leave for another time soon, except to repeat what a disenchanted nurse who was sharing her concerns with me said; “the fuss ting wrong with dis place, de front deh at the back.”
Frank Fyffe

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