Issuu

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

Message by Hon. Nigel Dharamlall, M.P.

— Minister of Local Government and Regional Development

LINDEN Town Week is a celebration of the pride and strength of the Linden people. This is a 52-year history which we support. Since our return to office in 2020, the focus placed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government on the wellbeing of the Linden people is undoubted. We have sat with you all to listen to your hopes, your visions, and to work with you to continue building on your development pathway. We invite you to stay the course and build with us.

More importantly, you can be assured, as any other community in Guyana, that you are part of the vision for ‘One Guyana’. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is a proud supporter of the township in its celebration of 52 years. I am pleased to see that the number of activities has increased exponentially and that the celebration will run into two weeks. The diversity of the planned events, from sports to farmers’ markets to the usual entertainment scene, also

reflects the massive growth potential of the region to transform your image from mining to tourism. It must be said that these Linden Town Week activities are important not only for building community spirit but also for enhancing the tourism landscape of the township which brings overall increased economic prosperity. This is good, commendable work. For persons who will be attending the town week celebrations, I encourage you all to make the best of

the moment in the safest, most responsible manner. The Ministry will support the township in the cleanup after the celebration, but we also encourage everyone to keep your surroundings clean and to use garbage receptacles to properly dispose of your waste. To the people of Linden, I join you in celebrating the anniversary of your home and encourage you to open your arms to visitors in that usual Guyanese hospitable way. Happy Linden Town Week!

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Nigel Dharamlall

Message of Her Worship, Waneka Arrindell, Mayor of Linden

WE are excited for this year’s Linden Town Week. We open the doors of our township and invite everyone to enjoy the culture that Linden brings and everything we have to offer. There is something available for everyone, whether it is family-oriented, religious, for seniors or for youth. As Mayor, I am happy that these 13 days of activities will bring support to our local businesses and entrepreneurs. While those from our local business community are still recovering from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are relieved to see the light slowly approaching. To see the growth of Linden Town Week, not only in the number of days but also in the support from the community, has been a warming experience. We have seen tremendous support from the business community. Linden Town Week continues to grow and we must evolve to grow with it and put systems in place to facilitate this growth. Linden Town Week will be more organised, better planned, and even better marketed as we continue to build and grow. Even with all of this growth happening now, I am forever optimistic that there is always room to climb higher. As we look to the future, it is the desire of the Mayor &

Her Worship, Waneka Arrindell, Mayor of Linden

Town Council to ensure there is proper continuity on planning Town Week activities even when this Council moves on. There must be strategic growth in the prominence of our celebration, and in the wealth of the business community that supports us. For future Linden Town Weeks, expect more representation for faith-based bodies, a day for celebrating the culture of all the peoples of Guyana, and a day for our communities so that every corner of our township can have an event throughout the festivities targetted specifically for the development of their area. We need you to make this happen. For now, let’s celebrate. A Happy Linden Town Week to everyone, and a warm welcome to our visitors.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

How ‘Linden Town Week’ is connected to St Lucia — A trip down memory lane with founder, ‘Fredco’ By Shari Simon KNOWN for its rich mining history and industrial heritage, idyllic hilly landscape with sand, trees and a stunning display of architecture, and unique blend of culture and traditions, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is a fast-growing tourism hub that promises plenty of fun and engaging activities during the annual ‘Linden Town Week’. The genesis of ‘Linden Town Week’ started with Linden Town Councillor, Norvell “Fredco” Fredericks, who was eager to find a way to promote the town, its people, the different cultures while also building a sense of community.

Norvell Fredericks

also impressed with their celebration of local food, handicraft, and language. “That was always at the back of my mind. And so, when it came to see what can (sic) Linden have on the Visit Guyana calendar of 1996, I put that out,” he said. At the time, he was a member of the Linden Chamber of Commerce and accepted an invitation

Norvell’s father, Theodore Fredericks, the ‘palawala’ from St. Lucia

Of course, the intention was also to create economic opportunities. “It was December 1995, as we were preparing for the Visit Guyana year [1996] and that calendar had nothing to do with Linden,” recalled 58-yearold Fredericks, who is also a Justice of Peace. Fredericks disclosed that he had returned to Guyana from St Lucia a year earlier, in 1994, after taking time to explore the country where his father, Theodore Fredericks, resided, and to learn more about his family roots, and attain dual citizenship. During his visit to the island, Fredericks said he attended a “Village Day” celebration and was awestruck with the pride of the St Lucian people, and

was discussed and adopted fully,” said Fredericks. Even though Fredericks was instrumental in crafting the original idea of ‘Linden Town Day’, he still credits his late colleague, Jillian Persaud, a former member of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, whom, he said, provided resources and support to successfully execute the initiative.

from the then-President of the Chamber of Commerce, Orland Copeland, to attend a meeting at the Linden Town Council. Present at that meeting were Donald Sinclair and his team from the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG). The meeting focused on discussing and planning Linden’s contribution toward the Visit Guyana calendar with community members. “It was a full meeting, so I sat close to the doorway and from the beginning of the meeting, I had my hands up… I was ignored,” Fredericks shared. “Until the Regional Chairman, Mr Yearwood asked that I be given a chance to speak before the meeting closes,” he added. After spending a total

A snapshot from the first ‘Linden Town Day’

of 11 years living abroad between Trinidad & Tobago and St. Lucia, Fredericks said he relied on his travelling experience to present ten points for establishing a celebration for Linden. Fredericks said his points for a “Linden Town Day” were well-received by those in the packed Linden Town Council meeting room. “I moved to have it written, and then in January or February of 1996, [Linden] Mayor, Abdul Kadir called a meeting. It

The first ‘Linden Town Day’ was held on April 28th, 1996. Scores of excited adults and children attended the event because rumour had it: “Something big happening in Mackenzie!” “There was one company showcasing their prefab houses, there was a company showcasing pickaxes, spades, wheelbarrows and many of those things,” Fredericks noted. As the years progressed, ‘Linden Town Day’ grew to become a national calendar event attracting Guyanese from across the country and in the diaspora. The level of enthusiasm and anticipation eventually prompted event organisers to make it a yearly event. “In 2006, the Kashif and Shanghai Organiza-

tion then took it to ‘Town Week’ and it was made bigger!” Fredericks remarked. Despite the success, he revealed that “part of the founding principle of the economic gains to Linden started slipping away because every ‘Lindener’ wants to party, and visitors become the vendors.” Fredericks hopes there will be a return to the founding principle of the celebration, so that persons can visit and experience Linden while the town earns and contributes to building the economy. This year, ‘Linden Town Week 2022’ is set for April 23 to May 5 and will be celebrated under the theme “Together We Build.” After being held virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the now thirteen-day event

‘Linden Town Day’, 1997

Norvell with his mother and her first and third cousins (the Cruikshank clan)

boasts a calendar of activities that include sports tournaments, pageants, a cooking competition, food festivals, feature addresses from community leaders, and more. Fredericks shared that he would get “goosebumps” at times when reflecting on how his idea became a reality. “For me, I am happy that I made such a grand contribution to this nation and I would like to invite everyone in the diaspora, [and] within Guyana to come to Linden for Linden Town Week. It’s a wonderful festival,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

Five delegates each vying for Miss Ambassador, Miss Big and Beautiful crowns By Tamica Garnett L I N D E N To w n We e k (LTW) is not the same without its signature pageants. Patrons flocking to the

on their respective dates. The delegates for the Miss Young Ambassador are 20-year-old Makayla Forde from Industrial Area, 17-year-old Moneisha Trotman from Block 22,

dance performances which will be followed by a talent segment, public speaking on a community-related topic, and an evening-wear segment. Additionally, contenders

I wasn’t sure what to expect. But persons have not been going anywhere for the [last] two years, so they’re really anticipating the pageant,” Taylor commented in a recent interview.

“It helps me with talking to others and building my boldness to speak to the public and in the community. And I’m really looking forward to making new friends and helping to moti-

wanting to set an example to other “thick” women that being big does not mean that you are not beautiful. “I just said let me try something different. I feel great at representing the

(From left) Miss Linden Young Ambassador Delegate No. 2, Makayla Forde; Delegate No. 1, Moneisha Trotman; Delegate No. 5, Celina Lorrimer; Delegate No. 4, Zalika Samuels; and Delegate No. 3, Elisheba Wilson (Malcolm James photo)

mining town for LTW 2022 will not be disappointed as they can rest assured that this year’s hosting will see both the “Miss Linden Young Ambassador” and

19-year-old Zalika Samuels from Amelia’s Ward, 18-year-old Elisheba Wilson from Wisroc, and 16-yearold Celina Lorrimer from

Miss BBB Delegate No. 1, Shuronica Willie (Malcolm James photo)

“Miss Linden Big, Bold and Beautiful” (BBB) pageants. The Miss Linden Young Ambassador, which is a rebranding of the “Miss Linden Teen” pageant, is set for this Saturday, April 23, while the Miss Linden BBB pageant will be on April 27. Both pageants will see five delegates each participating, and will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club

in the Young Ambassadors pageant will also compete in a category showcasing a sports discipline, while the delegates in the BBB

Miss BBB Delegate No. 4, Mitchelle Hughes (Malcolm James photo)

Wismar Housing Scheme. In the BBB Pageant, where contestants have to weigh-in at 280lbs or over to participate, the delegates are Shuronica Willie of One Mile, Mitchelle Hughes of Silver town, Madijah Bess of Green Valley, Jenel Pollydore of Spikeland, and Jenel Sertimer of Christianburg. The delegates of both pageants will open with

The delegates are also excited to see the pageants’ return, particularly given their use as a means of building the women’s confidence.

Miss BBB Delegate No. 3, Jenel Pollydore (Malcolm James photo)

pageant will compete in a “Summer Wear” category. Organiser of the pageants, Mayfield Taylor, noted that, notwithstanding a lack of sufficient sponsorship, the public’s anticipation is building for the pageants. “I feel good because normally, there’s a hype and persons look forward for (sic) it. After the pandemic,

vate other persons to have a high self-esteem, and not be afraid to get involved in pageantry,” Wilson, an aspiring teacher shared.

Miss BBB Delegate No. 2, Jenel Sertimer (Elan James photo)

In a recent interview, Miss Young Ambassador contestant, Elisheba Wilson, shared that it was not her first time trying her hand at a pageant. She said it was her past experience that motivated her to want to get involved in more pageants. Wilson was a first runner-up in the 2020 Miss New Silvercity Secondary School pageant.

bigger girls so that the others who don’t have the confidence will hopefully see me showcasing myself and it would help them to get that

Miss BBB Delegate No. 5, Madijah Bess (Elan James photo)

In the BBB pageant, candidate, Jenel Pollydore, shared how proud and excited she was that there is a pageant for plus-sized women, since they are not usually catered for in conventional pageants. A teacher at the Watooka Day Nursery School, Jenel said she entered the pageant as a way of coming out of her comfort zone, and

confidence as well,” she expressed. “We have no limitations and I just want to show everyone that we can showcase ourselves too and have that confidence.” Her confidence level is one of the primary skills she depends on when she takes to the stage to compete against her pageant opponents.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

Building her life in Linden, Pam is now an agro-processor By Naomi Parris

UPROOTING one’s life from one place and going to another can sometimes be a challenge; however, in the case of Pamela Bradford, also known as “Pam”, the decision to leave her Vigilance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home to migrate to Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was an easy one which she did for love. While she did have to leave some things behind, she took her most valuables gifts along with her when she migrated: her passion, talent, and drive to be a successful business woman. Pam is the proud owner of “Pam’s Floral and Coconut Products”, a business which she built from scratch, with pure perseverance and utter determination. “I’m originally from the East Coast but I married and I’ve been living in Linden since 2005… it has been great, because I had the opportunity to continue doing what I love when I moved. I came to

hands, the floral business kept her occupied. Although she had to let go of the brand she built while living on Guyana’s eastern coast, she was excited to bring a new and fresh creative eye to floral arrangements in the place that would be her new hometown. Ranging from wedding arrangements, household decorations and even funeral wreaths, Pam can pretty much turn any bunch of simple-looking flowers into an alluring piece of art work. “I started my very first business back when I was on the East Coast. I have a floral shop; I do florals, I do stuff for weddings and so.”

Businesswoman, Pamela Bradford

Linden, and now I have my business in Linden,” the 52-year-old entrepreneur told this publication. The mother of three disclosed that she had first began her floral business

on a small scale before her move to Linden, making various unique floral arrangements for interested connoisseurs. As she is someone who loves working with her

EXPANDING Wanting to explore more of her talents, Pam, some five years ago, decided to give her hand a try in the agriculture business as an agro-processor. She is one of the few agro-processors in the region that produces her very products locally. Making Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Pam bottles and labels her very own

A few of Pam’s coconut oil products/skin care products on display at a recent farmers’ market

produce from her home. At the time when she started the business in Region 10, there seemed to be a high demand in the region for coconut oil and other related products. She said her inspiration came from another friend who was already in the business. “At the time, a lot of persons were using it and

ers like herself, especially since many businesses are still finding ways to recover from the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which ‘washed up’ on Guyana’s shores in 2020. Nevertheless, these challenges have not hindered Pam from striving to be her best as a business woman as she is now

A few of Pam’s floral arrangements

I felt comfortable doing it and I enjoy doing it. I just love it because it keeps me occupied,” she said when asked about her coconut oil business. Everything is made locally and Pam uses recycled plastic bottles for her finished product. Over the years, she has managed to make a name for herself, even owning a stall in the local municipal market. Keeping her business alive and thriving, however, has been difficult in the recent years, especially as an agro-processor. “It has a lot of challenges, it has a lot of struggles also, I think I can do a lot more… you don’t really get much help. If I got more help, my business probably would be much better.” Pam further explained that much more support is needed for the local agriculture stakeholders in the region. She noted that while some strides have been made in recent months with a monthly farmers’ market, additional support will be welcomed by many stakehold-

looking to tap in further into the agro-processing business to expand her coconut products to make other locally made skincare products from the very fruits bearing from the trees around her. She is soon looking to officially launch a wide range of hair and skin products. If you’re interested in a floral arrangement, or looking to purchase a bottle of extra virgin coconut oil you can contact Pam’s floral and coconut products on 686-6881. In celebration of Linden Town Week, a Business Expo, Agriculture and Food Village is slated to be held on April 29 at Wismar Municipal Market from 08:00 hours. Region 10 Agriculture Officer, Derrick Collins said the event will see some of the region’s business owners, farmers, agro-processors and other stakeholders showcasing their products and produce with the aim of further pushing the region as a local agriculture hub.

10A

Linden: A brief history of 52 years as a town THE community of Linden is, this year, celebrating some 52 years as a township, and has come a far way from its foundation prior to 1970. The township was officially established in 1970 with the joining of three local areas, namely Wismar, Mackenzie and Christianburg. Even as settlement in those communities can be traced back to the 1760s, it is known that the Christianburg community was one in which the Dutch settled at the end

of the 18th Century. Wismar, however, was initially established by the Germans who were subsequently forced out by the Dutch which caused the Germans to migrate to Rockstone. Mackenzie community, on the other hand, was founded by George Bain Mackenzie, a geologist who initially visited the area in 1913 in search of bauxite. He was successful. Bauxite mining later became the main economic activity within the three communities.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

Linden became a town in 1970. At that time, a few names for the township were explored including “MacMarBurg”, which is a combination of the names of the three communities included in the catchment. The local area authority officials later settled on naming the town after Former President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. While there was increased economic activities throughout the township, there was a strong class segregation as persons from

different class groups were settled into areas based on their position within that localised society and bauxite industry. Those regarded of higher social groupings lived in areas such as “Retrieve”, while labourers were restricted to Wismar. Europeans or “whites” settled in areas such as “Watooka” and “Richmond Hill” among others. Those areas where the “whites” settled were said to be off-limits to non-white persons from the township. With a focus on bauxite

prior to its township, the Demerara Bauxite Company was established in 1916 and focused on mining, processing and selling bauxite. The initial site chosen for this venture was just along the Demerara River. When the bauxite company was nationalised in 1970, just as Linden was given township status, those areas became localised. As such, influential persons of African descent replaced the white expatriate population that lived there. Over time, many com-

munities have expanded or grown including the expansion of areas like “Amelia’s Ward” which started out as a small community, but has grown to be one of the largest housing developments in the country. Burgeoning communities like Wisroc and Block 22 followed similarly. Many “Lindeners” consider the town to be the heart of Guyana, as Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) touches six of the other nine regions.

Entering ‘Retrieve’ (Delano Williams photo)

The Christianburg Waterwheel (Delano Williams photo)

This sign, which was laid in 1969, shows the name “MacMarBurg” (Delano Williams photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022

11A

12A

GUYANA CHRONICLE Linden Town Week Buzz, Thursday, April 21, 2022