300 to be employed under Linden D&I programme

At least 300 persons from the Linden community, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are expected to be employed within the next week following the return of the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) programme to the community. This was confirmed by Deputy Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs), Sandra Adams.

Despite several setbacks which caused some delay to the commencement of the programme, Adams said the community would soon benefit from its return. The programme will involve cleaning of drains and de-silting of creeks throughout Linden, among other cleaning exercises.

“We had some setbacks, not from the Regional level but from the Ministry of Agriculture. Delay in signing documentations and all of that but I wish to say… people can expect that a number of people across Linden, including up to Three Friends Mines, will be put to work via the Drainage programme, which is the D&I programme… We hope to employ at least 300 people on that programme across Linden,” Adams stated.

In providing some clarity, Adams said the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP), which is presently being conducted via the Linden Mayor and Town Council, is a separate clean-up initiative. The CIIP programme recently came into existence after years of the D&I programme.

Additionally, Adams disclosed that two new CDC’s were recently formed in the community of Kwakwani; one at the Kwakwani Waterfront and another at Kwakwani Park. She said these new CDCs would also benefit from drainage and irrigation works. Adams further alluded that she had the opportunity to meet with the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Development Council where discussions were held on a number of issues.