Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told Lindeners that they should take advantage of the opportunities the new link to Brazil will allow them to access, even as government continues to take steps to boost education and health care in the region.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Hinds made these statements in his address at the opening of Linden Town week activities on Monday. He told the gathering that though some persons are concerned that Guyana may be overwhelmed by Brazilians as they seek to exploit the opportunities that would be created on completion of the Takutu Bridge linking Guyana with northern Brazil, the onus lies with the people of Linden to position themselves to take advantage of these opportunities.
He advised them not to allow the community to return to being a ‘one company town’ but to seek to develop the economic activities that sustained it during the period when bauxite was at its lowest.
Hinds also said government was pursuing the revival of the bauxite industry with large investments expected soon from BOSAI and RUSAL. Despite this, the prime minister said Lindeners need to find ways to diversify the community’s economic activity.
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Genevieve Whyte-Nedd, who was born in the mining town, in her feature address encouraged residents to cooperate to face challenges affecting them. She said no single entity could develop the community but if the leaders came together to work towards a common goal the town can thrive. As regard the plans for developing the community, Whyte-Nedd said that it is important to pursue excellence and preserve the peace and unity in the face of investments.
In her address to parents Whyte-Nedd urged them to take responsibility for the education of their children. She admonished them to ensure that the children complete secondary school since a primary education is not enough to be competitive in today’s world. Whyte-Nedd also said special attention should be given to boys and that they need to be socialised to pursue education in order to become better leaders, in the homes, communities and further afield.
Whyte-Nedd said girls and boys learn differently and as much as educators are duty-bound to ensure that boys do not lose interest in education, it begins with parents.
The Chief Education Officer said that education is vital to changing the economic status of individuals and youths should be encouraged to achieve their best.
GINA said other speakers at the opening ceremony included Region Ten Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin. Corbin said that over the years he had seen the town develop by ‘leaps and troughs’ which has given Lindeners the courage to face any new challenge with an indomitable will to survive.
Greetings and similar sentiments were also expressed by Alliance For Change Executive Member and Member of Parliament, Sheila Holder, Presidential Advisor on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Seewchan, and Project Manager of the Linden Economic Advancement Pro-gramme, Kathleen Whalen.
The opening ceremony saw displays of various talents ranging from dance to poetry by persons from the community while the delegates for the Miss Linden Town Day and the Miss Big and Beautiful pageants, to be held later in the week, were introduced to the community.
Also, Digicel gave special prizes to the top Linden performers at the 2007 National Grade Six Examination Letiesha Lynch; CSEC Exam Gerald Thompson and CAPE, Jewel Chester.
