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Ten years later
Dear Editor,
In 2015, at the resumption of local government elections, our group, Linden 2025, participated as an independent entity. This decision was based on the assessment that the prevailing narrative and practices regarding local governance were constrained and that local government bodies were not adequately serving the interests of their respective communities.
(Linden 2025 received a Council seat but was essentially prevented from influencing its operations). We took guidance from the principles that “All Politics are Local” and “Think Nationally, Act Locally,” believing that strengthening local governance is key to driving change and sustained national progress.
Additionally, our 2015 projections identified 2025 as a pivotal year for the political and social advancement of Linden and Guyana. By that time, Guyana was expected to have attained “First Oil,” with the necessary restructuring of governance and societal frameworks underway.
Our objective was to implement the Great Town Project, thereby establishing a foundation for the development of the” Great Town of Linden by 2025”. Our approach involved segmenting the population into distinct groups: toddlers, individuals beginning secondary education, early-career professionals/workers, and those nearing retirement. Leveraging projections for Guyana in 2025, we evaluated how governance in Linden could be organized to deliver tailored services and foster an environment that supports positive outcomes for each demographic group in 2025.
It was understood that the desired outcomes were not solely controlled by the Town Council but also depended on the interactions with, and decisions of, the Regional and National governments. Therefore, the council needed to develop strategies to enhance cooperative relationships with these entities, given the historical context and challenges related to local community empowerment.
It is 2025, a decade after local governance “renewal” and three mayoral terms, what is Linden’s status regarding governance, community engagement and satisfaction, intergovernmental relations, environmental stewardship, and the projected outcomes?
Linden has experienced considerable progress in housing and infrastructure, largely independent of direct Town Council influence oversight. Meanwhile, Central Mackenzie—managed directly by the Council—displays features more characteristic of an “interior landing “than those expected in the central district of Guyana’s second largest town.
According to most criteria and assessments, the Linden Town Council has not met the desired standards and community expectations following the reinstatement of local-government elections in 2015. This outcome is particularly noteworthy, as the Council’s subpar performance occurred under national administrations governed by the two major political parties.
Would a council led by “Linden 2025” have achieved more positive outcomes? It is currently the period of national elections; why is this missive referencing local government elections that took place a decade ago?
During this election period, the political parties participating in the national election should clarify how their programmes and strategies for local governance would address the specific issues faced by Linden, as well as outline their plans to foster a constructive relationship with the Linden community and the Linden Mayor & Town Council.
Samuel Wright
Linden
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