“Linden will be a key gateway to Brazil”– Mayor Holland

By Utamu Belle

recently-elected Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland believes that the town will be a key gateway to Brazil, as well as a hub for commerce, transport, hospitality and mining services.

During an address to Lindeners at the launch of the annual Linden Town Week on Sunday, Holland disclosed his belief that the bauxite-rich town would be great again and reiterated his promise of developing it into a city.

Referencing plans of the recently-elected Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), the Mayor outlined several initiatives which are set to come on stream in the community.

“We are working to realise a completed road from Brazil to Linden, and the bridge linking Region Seven, with our Region, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to increase business traffic. We need to develop boardwalks on both banks of the river. We need to change the infrastructural face of our town. We need a municipal mall; a better garbage disposal system; upgrading of our educational system; advancement of art, culture, sports, entertainment and eco-tourism; jobs for our youths…Contracts for jobs in Linden should be of primary benefit to Lindeners,” the Mayor indicated.

He said the soon-to-be-opened toll station at Kara Kara, Mackenzie, will bring enough revenue, as compensation for the wear and tear of heavy-duty trucks which traverse the Linden roadways. Holland added that the community was poised for increased job creation through public infrastructural projects. He stressed, however, that development of the town requires a cooperative effort, as he indicated that it was time for a shift in thinking by Lindeners. As such, he encouraged residents to broaden their way of thinking.

Holland also called on Lindeners to collaborate in every sector, while stressing the need for a secure environment where businesses and investors can thrive. All this, he said, can be achieved with the help of Government, and investors buying in to the community’s development plans. The Diaspora, he stated, is needed now more than ever, for its international expertise. Additionally, the Linden Mayor made a call for entrepreneurs to arise and realise a business vision.

“Be enterprising, it is the resolve of every Lindener. Your new Town Council is strong in advocating for small businesses and entrepreneurship. Whatever is your business dream, come and talk with us, we want to see small businesses thrive. Together we can foster a development agenda that will improve the way of life for all Lindeners and promote prosperity and prestige for our town,” he said.

Holland said the realisation of that vision required best business practices and principles as well as the adaptation of green, environmentally friendly endeavours, adding that it was time for the community to embrace order and discipline.

“It is time to experience true freedom. It is time to experience true democracy and it is time to experience true development. I am proud of Linden and all that we’ve endured, we are still standing.

As a town, our development requires that we all play our part in bringing about our success…We need to be united, we need to have a progressive mindset…We must treat our town as the jewel of this nation that it is…”

The Mayor further stated that Linden could and would return to being a better place where people from overseas would once again flock for products and services. He said he was committed to a new, enterprising, all-inclusive and corruption-free culture.”Linden will be the place to be. Linden will be the model of true development,” he stated.