Dear Editor,
It is true how much history can make men wise. At the opening of the Linden Town Week on Sunday, March 28, Ms Tracy Gibson who delivered the feature address quite fittingly dealt with some of the history of that community. She deserves our praise, particularly since recent experiences suggest a serious lack of knowledge about our recent past.
At a well-attended church rally last week no one knew of the 1969 Rupununi Uprising; later some youngsters had only a vague idea about the Jonestown tragedy and our cricketing icons Clive Lloyd, Roy Fredericks and Rohan Kanhai. Part of the fault is with my own generation, older parents and guardians, aided by a media that has a particularly narrow focus. I asked a 29-year-old who lives abroad, but was born in Wismar, if he knew how Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie got the name of Linden. Let me explain for him and the record.
When attaining Republican status it was decided that the three areas Mackenzie, Wismar and Christianburg should be elevated to the status of a Town; no one proposed a name so to speak, to unite the three communities. After a meeting ‘over the river’ as was customary, a few of us met at the home of Mr Carl D’Aguiar, Manager of the Singers Machine Mackenzie outlet. His wife Yvette was the essence of kindness, generosity and devotion, and irrespective of how late it was, Mrs D’Aguiar would produce tasty local dishes for Carl and his friends. As we enjoyed the meal, we sat down to a game of dominoes and to chat. Carl and Joseph Aaron, MP, asked my views about a name for the new town. When I suggested naming the area after former President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (LFFB) that ended the search for a name, and so it was and is.
In a similar way ‘Kelly Dam’ when it was extended eastward and upgraded was named Carifesta Avenue; the then mayor was Mrs Beryl Simon and the commissioner of police was Carl ‘Bobo’ Austin.
When the Demerara Turf Club was no more and a road network was necessary for the expanding city, that stretch in front of the Grandstand, where jockeys and horses extended themselves to win at the ‘tape’ represented the final two furlongs of the race, and was known as the ‘homestretch’ ‒ hence the name Homestretch Avenue. Both Francis Quamina Farrier and myself claim credit for the idea.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
