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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 9, 2017
One step closer – Linden on verge of fostering close ties with Newark, New Jersey
THE Linden Mayor and Town Council is on the verge of twinning the township of Linden with the City of Newark in the US state of New Jersey. The deal to foster close ties between the two municipalities was concretised last Saturday at a town hall-style meeting held in Brooklyn, New York and attended by Linden Mayor, Mr Carwyn Holland, Councillor Nikeza Noel and Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Enterprise Network, Ms. Tandika Miller. According to Mayor Holland, his being at the meeting was at the invitation of Newark’s Mayor, Ras J. Baraka, with whom he had held previous discussions about twinning the two cities. The meeting was held under the theme, “Creating investments for financial viability: Stimulating development, social transformation and economic prosperity for Linden”. Holland told the Guyana Chronicle that the municipality has big
plans for rebuilding Linden, and he shared them all with Ras Baraka. “I shared Linden’s vision and growth plan through manufacturing, education, health, sports, and tourism,” he said, adding that several other persons, among them New York’s Senator Kevin Parker, have expressed an interest in helping Linden, and invited him to take advantage of educational and other opportunities available. WELL ATTENDED Noting that the New York meeting was well attended, and that the Diaspora was very supportive of his ideas, Holland said: “Twinning Newark with Linden is consequential for Linden’s economic renaissance and development. “This city-to-city partnership will foster new cultural and economic cooperation; create new prospects for business investments to sustain Linden’s economic viability; help create much-needed jobs
Linden Mayor, Mr Carwyn Holland (right) and Newark’s Deputy Mayor, Mr Ugo Nwaokoro after the meeting in New York
Personality of the week...
‘AuntycallsPat’ it a day – after 31 years as a dental nurse at LHC
DENTAL Nurse, Ms Patricia Daniels, fondly known as ‘Aunty Pat’, will, in a matter of days, bid farewell to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), the institution to which she has given 31 years of service. While she approaches her retirement with mixed emotions, Aunty Pat is spending her last few days reminiscing on the last three decades she gave selflessly to the hospital. Now 61, Aunty Pat was introduced to the medical field as a Trainee Nurse, but after a while, it was a requirement that the batch be professionally trained at the newly instituted nursing school. She proudly recalls being amongst the first batch of nurses that were recruited at the newly opened Upper Demerara Hospital. And when the opportunity arose for her to be qualified, she accepted and registered for the two-year programme, but, unfortunately, had to re-sit medicine. Her attempt to re-sit
came with many challenges, as she had to be back in the classroom and still work a full eight-hour shift. But even after all those sacrifices, Aunty Pat was told that she couldn’t re-sit the examinations along with 5 of her colleagues. “We cry, we cry and we throw down we’self, and I said that was it! I’m not going to give it another try!” she said. She continued as a bed-side nurse, which she enjoyed most of all, until a call was made for a full-time dental nurse. “They wanted someone at Dentistry, and though it was time-and-a-half on Saturdays and double on Sundays, I volunteered. I wasn’t looking for the money; I just wanted peace of mind. “So, there I was, out of professional into dentistry.” THE TRANSITION In 1998, Aunty Pat was now qualified as a professional dental nurse. Since then, she has worked along with Dr. Joseph Arm-
strong, who also recruited her at his private clinic. What she enjoyed most during that period, she said, is pleasing her patients and seeing them smile brightly again. She also enjoyed coordinating school programmes and educating persons on the need for dental care. Though there were plenty of opportunities to elevate herself, Aunty Pat said that being a single-mother, she always took into consideration the safety of her two young daughters, and the benefits of maintaining a spiritual and family life. In fact, she plans to spend her retirement getting closer to her grandchildren, and giving more in her service to God. “I don’t want to work hard; I will continue in the private clinic, but I plan to be more active church-wise, and of course care my grandchildren,” she said. She also hopes that a short-story she put together over the years on dental health will be published as a story book for nursery and primary schoolchildren.
for young people; and engender social transformation and prosperity for Lindeners. I’m excited about this historic prospect.” Among areas in which he feels Linden can benefit tremendously from the deal are youth empowerment, enterprising, the restructuring and enhancement of public infrastructure, developing Linden’s tourism industry, agro-processing, and economic development. Other areas include garbage collection, the exchange of students and athletes, and inter-cultural exchange. “I believe that the twinning with Linden and Newark will add value to our efforts to further develop Linden, and play a key role in augmenting our efforts towards all inclusive development of the people and town of Linden,” Holland said. Newark, New Jersey has a population of close to 300, 000 residents, and is one of the main air, shipping and railway hubs in the US.
Soon to be retired dental nurse, Ms Patricia Daniels