Lamentations on conditions in Linden

Aug 18, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Well, the Town Week and Jubilee celebrations have come and gone, and we the folks of Linden/Region 10 are back to business as usual. The dust has settled even as there are some dark clouds as with respect to the Linden Mayor and Town Council and recent rumblings within- Rancour between the Town Clerk and councillors; both Mayor and Deputy Mayor simultaneously on vocation, and also talks about conflict of interest within the Regional Democratic Council. So let’s see what it is within the scheme of things in Linden/Region 10.
As we know many promises that were made during the elections campaign are yet to be fulfilled. We were told of many investors from all about who were on the brink, eager and raring to do various kinds of business in the town/region. Can anyone say what have become of them? Has the way not been cleared for them to start? So many other things were said, but yet again as we know, things are easier said than done; talk is so cheap and worse yet, getting folks to walk their talk is often a difficult task. Anyway, some air of expectation has begun to blow once again as leading officials are sowing seeds of optimism, touting Linden/Region 10 as having the potentials for becoming the hub for economic development. Certainly good news rekindling hopes anew.
Before going any further I want to commend those government places, private business/corporations, schools, Linden Technical Complex, homes, and of course the M&TC for their wonderful effort in ushering in our Independence Jubilee spirit by the beautifying and decorating of their places in various style and fashion. The flag decorations that were placed along both sides of the Washer Pond road leading to where the burnt down General Office was, surely brought on a feeling of celebration. Though they were roughly made, they present a lovely sight from a distance. And of course one couldn’t avoid noticing that the opposition head office didn’t mount a single flag. Having said that, one cannot truly say that serious efforts were made to spruce-up the Town for the Jubilee or even the town week for that matter.
As is customary the high point for any big celebration in Linden is the “Front” – when Lindeners say “ah going out front” we know just where they will be. So it stands to reason that much emphasis would have been placed on cleaning up the “front” properly as a show-piece. Sadly this was not done. Just a few over-head buntings were mounted period! The drains/gutters along the “Avenue of the Republic”, the Town’s main road and access roads remain clogged, filthy, stagnant and the stench emanating from the black, green, muddy, slush, infested with roaches was offensive. Over these drains/gutters were the regular spots rented out to Town vendors to build the booths. They prayed it wouldn’t rain.
Now these heavy concrete slabs covering the drains along the main road are as many have observed a disaster, since they cannot be easily removed for regular cleaning of the drains except by machine, hence, since they have been placed there – over two years – they have never been moved except for a few that were shifted for whatever reason and have remain just where they are to date.
Editor, I’m betting pennies to pins that in spite of the rush of work on drains being done at present the state of the drains on Republic Avenue will remain untouched. And talking about drains; though it be a pleasant sight, seeing these drains being done, residents can only hope that they are being built to a high standard so that they remain durable for whatever their allotted time, a thing citizens are never told. Often times one is left to wonder aloud the quality of forward planning/projection done. With all the sittings, the nice talks, colourful expressions, and grand ideas spouted, we hardly see the walks to match the talks, the evidence from those prolong perennial meetings and planning sessions.
Who can say why some infrastructural work has to be all gone, damaged beyond repair before they are given attention? Admitted that work around the Town has to be done piece meal since large sums of funding are never at one time available – still, why can’t the quality of work in whatever small portion stand the test of time until another portion/section can be fused to it? Why before a new follow-up portion of work is done that portion that preceded it is destroyed? This is certainly not the way of development, and it is not only just a case of merely bad work but utterly scandalous and insulting to the Town/Region residents. And what bothers me is the eagerness in which some are justifying wrongs by identifying similar wrongs in some other regions, as if patterning ourselves on irregularities is some form of credit. Is that a wholesome conduct, just how do we aspire to higher standard?
In passing let me remind some that this Town even before it became a Town was subject to and controlled by mainly one form of political influence and that has not changed. Thus one is hard pressed in identifying any other to really point an accusing finger at for whatever the perennial and numberless humbugs, neglect, shortfall, oversight, overlooked, etc. Thus our growth/stagnation has primarily been and remains our own doings.
Well, nice to see have in place new leaders/servants who have promised to serve with distinction, and such declaration is most welcome. But as we have often seen many before getting into office promise to change things, but instead things change them. Also as we know there are only two ways of doing things – a right way and a wrong way, but the habitual practice of tossing aside standard rules, established procedures on principles, brazenly replacing them with whimsical, unprincipled and in some cases disrespectful behaviour, seemed to be in vogue and very much cherished by those in control. And here is where the democratic process becomes a mockery and finally brazenly discarded.
Like many other Lindeners, I am waiting to hear the audited report, the benefits/profits accrued from the ten (10) days event and what project(s) the franchise holders have bequeathed to the Town as is one condition for having the franchise. Oh! By the way have the council stop collecting garbage?
Frank Fyffe

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