Dear Editor,

The year 2010 has come upon us in the same manner as every other community across our country, but what distinguishes us is the difference in the luggage of yesterday which we have brought over to 2010. This is the responsibility which lies in the hands of the region’s top functionaries.

Will Lindeners see a qualitative change in the functioning of the various administrations that is satisfactory to its citizens? Or would the complaints, irregularities, sloppiness, uncaring attitude and in some cases unprincipled behaviour and incompetence be permitted to fester?  I cannot say; that 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 of all; that we shelve some of the negative unproductive in-fighting in 2010; that those in leadership roles 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 addressing issues; and that those in authority exhibit a much more open and mature disposition in relation to criticism. In other words, ‘To thine own self be true.’

While most things are possible and can be accomplished, it stands to reason that as a community those things may never be attained if we continue in our selfish ways. Too many of us are lost and wrapped up in self; very few sincerely care about the community and only become concerned when they are directly affected by whatever hinders their personal development or 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 wrongs, ugly situations, injustices, etc, and I would try very hard to be impartial and objective in ventilating those issues and those that I personally observed and experienced. Yet there are those who forever have a skewed view of things, who delight themselves in conveniently making a thundering noise, shouting from the mountain top 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 activities. This I find rather disgusting and hypocritical. We cannot have it both ways; a stand on principle must be taken. We cannot see justice wearing blinders.

A few observations:

Firstly, 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 and roads to flood? Why can’t we have drains properly cleaned and the stuff immediately removed instead of dumping it on the side only to be washed back in a day or two? The main drains behind Linden Bus Park fence are scandalous. Nothing could be more health threatening than this stagnant water which is a perfect breeding site for diseases. Where are the health and sanitation authorities who are in charge of this community?

Then there are the weeding gangs. The supervisors of the various weeding gangs should be dismissed if they cannot see to it that their workers do a decent job; too many people are complaining about the sloppiness with which the work is done. Now in Damon Avenue – formerly Henderson Road and renamed in honour of the rebel slave who led an uprising in Essequibo – has been reclaimed by nature, a somewhat ironic boost to the LCDS, since in other respects the road is not environmentally friendly. This street is virtually abandoned; almost half of it has been taken over by bushes, trees and a mound formed by dumping garbage. The other half has been reduced to a narrow track, and you can only enter from one end. It is a sorry spectacle; you have to see it to believe it; 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, since they have been dumping the garbage themselves or have been allowing others from elsewhere to do so.

There is also Kwakwani Road. A supervisor who was working on the Linden- Kwakwani road last year became furious with me for writing about the dreadful condition of the road as I had experienced it. He then boastfully beseeched 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, and that only the stretch from Arorima to Ituni was done. Who then peddled the lie that the road was done throughout Linden to Kwakwani?

I come to the matter of traffic. The traffic department in Linden should never find it difficult to have things done, so why then do they make it appear so? There is the repainting of signs for the speed limit, humps where needed and blind turns; there is a jungle at the end of Dageraad Avenue; turning into Parson’s Road NIS (back road) it is pitch dark at nights obstructing vision. The same is the case at Greenheart Street. I see nothing wrong with replacing the concrete wall of the basket ball court with wire mesh so that one can see at a glance around the bend. There is danger in waiting at that corner.

I will leave the Linden ‘state of the art’ Hospital Complex 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.”

Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe