Linden Town Week

COMPTON CAESAR Chantoba Bright

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

From Town Day to Town Week

--Looking back with Norville Fredericks on the evolution of LTW IT all began in 1995, when businessman, Norville Fredericks, popularly known as ‘Fredco’, had what is commonly referred to these days as “an epiphany”.

At the time, Fredericks said, then President, Dr Cheddi Jagan had designated 1996 “Visit Guyana Year”.

And the thought struck him, “It would be so nice if Linden can be a part of those events.”

And, being the man of action that he is, and a member of the Linden Cham-

DAYS From 1996 to 1998, the celebration of Linden Town Day was a one-day event, which was held on a Sunday and aimed at selling Linden’s potential for investment.

The occasion was also used, ‘Fredco’ said, to boost the township’s economic growth and to showcase its wealth of talents, achievements and skills.

Then, having achieved this aim, the LTD Committee decided to expand the event to three weekend days. But after things took a political

economically but socially and culturally.”

Then, in the early 2000s, the Linden Mayor and Town Council took full control of LTD and the event was eventually franchised off. One of the earlier franchise holders was the Kashif and Shanghai group.

EVEN MORE CHANGES It was to later evolve from Linden Town Day, to Linden Town Week, whereby a plethora of events were packed into a seven-day period.

Jackie Jaxx in action during LTW 2015

ber of Commerce, ‘Fredco’ wasted no time in seeking an audience with then Director of Tourism, Mr. Donald Sinclair, who just so happened to be in Linden to meet and brainstorm ideas with regional officials.

And he did not just want to talk; he’d walked with about 10 possible ideas on how best to sell Linden.

After going those ideas over with him, Fredericks said, one seemed to have struck a chord with Sinclair.

Recalling the incident as if it were yesterday, ‘Fredco’ said: “Mr. Sinclair said to me, ‘The one with the town day seems to have more merit than the others. Why don’t you put it on paper! Let’s have a discussion on it!’

“I did. And by February of 1996, we held a meeting.

At that time, Mr. Abdool Kadir was the Mayor and the entire suggestion was adopted. And from that, we started planning for the 1996 Town Day.” FROM ONE TO THREE

slant, Fredericks, having decided he wanted no part of that, eventually left the committee.

Looking back, Fredericks said: “That was a huge success; at least seven different events, and at least six of them came off successful by 1998.

“By 1999, the other members came back in and by 2001, it started going more political; the politics was too thick for me.”

With him gone, Fredericks said, his recognition as the ‘founder’ was soon forgotten, and he was forced to watch on helplessly as the LTD became but a figment of what he once envisioned it to be.

“It moved from being an economic event, to more of a revenue event as the Council took it over; revenue in the sense of the Council looking to sell it off to one or two persons,” Fredericks said, adding: “But before that, it was set to benefit the entire population of Linden, and it was set not only to benefit

And while most of those events revolved around partying, the week also saw some focus on sports, arts and culture among other activities. Some of the signature ones were the ‘Linden Town Week Pageant’, the ‘Poker Street Lime’ and the ‘Main Big Lime’.

Fredericks is, however, contending that most of those events would fit comfortably within a threeday period, as many of them occur during the two weeks leading up to the big weekend. Then, on the Sunday, there is usually the grand presentation of prizes.

He is of the opinion that of late, there is nothing on the calendar to really showcase Linden.

“Yes! I am saddened by what it has become! I normally call it ‘Town Weak’, because it has weakened us financially,” Fredericks said.

“So many persons come from out of Linden to make an investment and take our monies away; even persons from the Diaspora have been doing that.

“I instead of Linden benefitting economically, it is the total reverse,” he added.

He is also saddened by the fact that as the founder of the event, he has no say these days or benefits, as the Linden Mayor and Town Council has completely taken over what is rightfully his intellectual property.

Mr Norville Fredericks, founder of Linden Town Week

But in spite of all this, he is hoping that Linden Town Week will return to what it was initially intended to be, with Linden as a town being the main beneficiary.

“I am hoping that we can see some little turn-around to bring it back as a truly economic activity for Linden; to make this something that Linden can be proud of,” he said, adding: “And it can even cause

the industry to become bigger. That is the way it was meant to be, and I am hoping that sometime, we can see the wisdom in bringing back what use to be.”

The current franchise holder of Linden Town Week is Vybz Entertainment. It acquired the franchise back in 2014 at a cost of $1M for a period of three years.

LTW has now been extended to 10 days.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

LTW 2017promises...

Ten glorious days of excitement!

--with a little something for everyone A WHOPPING 74 events in just 10 days!

Linden Town Week 2017 has been described in some quarters as a welcome comeback from the doldrums, and the streets of Linden are filled with positive reviews on what this year’s calendar of events has to offer.

According to the organisers, every boy, girl, man, woman, elderly resident, sports fanatic, party lover, student and religious person was taken into account in the planning of this year’s packed calendar of events.

The decorated streets of Linden are abuzz; the food joints, bars and watering holes are filled. The hair and nail salons are booked out, the clothing vendors can scarce catch their breath, and the coconut vendors have to make doubly sure those nuts are cold enough for the foreigners who specially took their leave from work to be home for the celebration of Linden’s 47th Anniversary.

Town Week has always been the most anticipated time of the year for Lindeners, but over the last few years, while there have been steady complaints of the activities being focused on partying, it no longer has the same pull-factor it once had.

A NEW VIBE There is, however, something about this year’s event that has the town glowing; a celebratory feeling of sorts that’s permeating the atmosphere, and people are ready to party and fete.

And its all thanks to Vybz Entertainment’s success in pulling off first-time events such as the ‘Jazz Festival’, which has managed to attract a larger crowd than anticipated.

The Food Festival, Outdoor Games Night, Career and Health Fair and School Concert are also some of the appreciated events for those who would rather give the partying a miss.

For the sports afficionados, almost every day they can look forward to some sporting activity or the other, which, in essence, is also a showcasing of Linden’s athletic potential. These events include the annual Guinness in the Streets Futsal Competition, Power Lifting Display, Stag Football Competition, Cycle Racing Competition, Cricket Competition, Swim Meet and the Linden Open

Table Tennis Competition.

On the educational front are events such as an essay competition, debating competition, and spelling bee competition, coupled with entertainment for the children and young people in general.

Over the weekend, parents can bring their children out to the Games Village located on Republic Avenue, then return to party until the sun comes up.

The weekend will also see parties ranging from the ‘the one-man-band fete’, colour party, regional all black, jeans and anything party, and the grand finale: The Linden Town Week ‘wash-down’ on Monday.

The senior citizens were not to be left out of this year’s events, and were treated to two luncheons, where they enjoyed a three-course meal,

while being entertained by the youths and their peers with talent pieces such as poems, songs, dances and motivational speeches.

The first of these events was held on Wednesday at the Egbert Benjamin Cultural Centre, and hosted by the Linden Mayor and Town Council, while the second was held on Friday and hosted by Bosai Minerals Incorporated.

The seniors were also given gift hampers before returning home.

For the water and fete lovers, the calendar also catered for them with the hosting of the ‘Linden Town Beach Jam’, which was held at the Buck Town Creek; the ‘Biker’s Fest’, which was held at the ‘River Wall’ on Burnham Drive; and not forgetting the ‘wash down’ pool party.

VYBZ DELIVERS Vybz Entertainment has indeed stepped up to the plate and delivered. When the Guyana Chronicle took to the

streets, soliciting views on the activities thus far and the anticipated ones left to come, no negative comment was received.

Noel Sinclair, a New York-based Guyanese said he was at first hesitant about coming home because of the immigration hassle taking place in the States since Donald Trump took office, but couldn’t resist the events seen on the calendar of activities and followed his heart and booked his ticket.

“I’m here three days now, and I cannot complain, man.

Everything is off the hook!

The organizing, the events, everything! I am having a ball! And I know my friends are having a ball, too,” an excited Sinclair said.

“There is something for everyone. You know, I like to party, but I appreciate the fact that everyone can enjoy themselves. I really couldn’t bring out my mom when I came, because there wasn’t any event really for her; but I

At the Fizz-eek Flex Extravaganza held on the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park on Tuesday

The Senior Citizens’ Luncheon hosted by LMTC at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre

brought her to the Jazz Night and she enjoyed it, man. I can’t complain.”

Georgetown resident, Shirley Kinsley who is in her 40s, said she is up in Linden to attend Go Moseley’s, ‘Big man do go out a style party’.

“Yes! I want them to know big man and big woman can have fun too!” Kingsley jovially said, adding: “Me and my girlfriends are up here to enjoy we self like we did in our youth. Is not everything must be for the youths! No big boombox; just we nice li’l one-man band like we know it! How could I miss that party eh!”

Marleen King, who hails from Linden, also complimented Vybz Entertainment for a job well done this year.

She is proud of her hometown, and is confident that great things are in store for Linden.

“I think this year, Linden Town Week is a good turnaround; there are a lot of events. I am a caterer, and so I am happy about the food festival; that was very good,” King said.

George Marshall, on the other hand, felt that the only thing missing is an exposition showcasing Linden’s local products and services.

“You cannot have a town day without showcasing what the town has to offer,” he says.

“Where are our agro-processors, our service providers? How will investors know what we have to offer?” he asked.

“I think next year, they should really incorporate that into the calendar, but other than that, everything is ok,” he said.

Booked out!

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--LTW sales causes designer to shut shop NOT only are the clothes vendors, restaurateurs, bartenders, cooks, promoters and DJs super busy for Linden Town Week 2017, but the designers are having the time of their lives as well, trying to please every client looking for their special and unique outfits for the highly anticipated parties and other events slated for this weekend.

With the evolution of fashion, boutique owners are now competing with local fashion designers, and Crystal Lam is now the talk of the town in creating high-quality, unique and highly competitive clothing for every gender, age and occasion.

For the Linden Town Week, many have placed their faith in Crystal’s hands, and as one young woman has observed, “When Linden girls step out, you must not know who is the foreigner and who is the local, because everybody looking dapper.”

Crystal Lam’s Designs was so booked out that designer and seamstress Crystal Lam has stopped taking in orders.

Which begs the question: What is so special and noteworthy about this Linden

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

with the line, “Eye Candy”.

“Epiphany” followed in 2016, and motivated Crystal to take up designing fulltime, since she had joined the banking industry in an effort to provide for her daughter.

Despite achieving so much at such a young age, to her she has not yet reached her pinnacle. “I would like to get into mass customisation,” she said. “This is something I’ve always been passionate about, and I’m currently making strides to make this a reality; so this is something you can all look out for.”

IN SISTER’S FOOTSTEPS The success of her sister, Tamika Marshall, in the field of entertainment also proved to be an inspiration of sorts for her, as she is often encouraged by the thought, “If she can, I can too.”

Crystal Lam has not only lured her clients with her noticeably good work, but her charming personality as well.

Her ambitious drive is cautiously balanced with humility and love, and that is what makes her a tilapia in a

Crystal creations

designer. And the simple answer is, at just 24, she’s

Crystal in one of her creations

already made a name for herself not only in Linden, but countrywide. Again, not only is she the proprietrix of her very own boutique, which was recently opened at 57 Wismar Street, Mackenzie, but she has already launched several lines of clothing, among them ‘Eye Candy’, ‘Debonair’, ‘Flame’ and ‘Epiphany’.

THE JOURNEY Born and bred in Wismar, the mother of two began her journey as a designer at the tender age of 12. No surprise there, as she’s the daughter of Garvin Lam, and niece of Derek Alphonso, renowned tailors and designers in the mining town of Linden.

“My first piece of work,” Crystal recalled, “was a two-piece suit for my eldest sister. I was just about 12 years old; and when I got home from school that day, she was preparing for an interview the next day, but didn’t have anything to wear, so I decided to get her an outfit.

“From that moment, I knew this was a part of me I couldn’t deny, because it was so effortless. And I got it right the first time.”

In 2008, she introduced her first collection at the “Linden Fashion Night”

Crystal Lam

sea of sharks. As she climbs the local fashion ladder and gains momentum while keeping her focus, she continues to grab the attention of Lindeners with her unique and beautifully crafted designs.

“I am not the kind to settle; I set high ideals for myself, both in my personal and professional life,” she said,

adding: “And though I often fall short, I believe that it is important to keep striving for excellence.”

Her motivation is founded on the words of her favourite quote by Napolean Hill, “Whatever the mind of Man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

Crystal Lam hard at work at her boutique

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

The ‘Linden Dream Team’ --A major player in Linden Town Week OVER the past six years, the name Linden Dream Team (LDT) has become known far and wide in the town of Linden, and has been making significant strides in executing charitable and educational activities throughout the ‘10-day’ event that is the Linden Town Week (LTD).

Many may associate the Linden Dream Team with the highly anticipated Colour Party, held every year on the Friday of LTD, since they have been successfully hosting that event for the past six years.

There is, however, more to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) than meets the eye, since its aim is to raise funds to offset the expenses it incurs hosting all of its other charitable and educational ventures.

According to the organisation’s Mission Statement, its objective is to “Aid in the revitalisation of Linden through education.”

RISING STARS Events like the ‘Rising Star Essay Competition’, which is held annually, sees participation from many students, and according to Marlyn Waterton, this year saw the submission of 250 essays from schools all across Linden.

This year also, most of the entries came from the Chris-

Lemuel Brown, Amelia’s Ward Primary’s first-place winner in the inter-primary Linden Dream Team essay competition

tianburg-Wismar Secondary School.

“At the beginning of the year, we normally send the essay topic to the High Schools and the students have one month to submit it to you,” Waterton said.

“We have a category for Forms One to Three, and another from Four to Five, but

of this year, we incorporated the juniors, who are the Sixth Graders, to bring the Primary Schools into it,” she added.

The presentation ceremony for that event was on Tuesday, and the First, Second and Third-place prizes were a laptop, a tablet, and a bicycle respectively.

The kids were also award-

ed trophies, while each student who submitted essays received a certificate and a star in recognition of their being ‘Rising Stars’.

On Wednesday, the Linden Dream Team hosted a ‘Day of Sports’ for those Linden students who are differently-abled. It was held at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground and saw students from both the Linden School for Special Needs and the Wismar Hill Primary School’s Visually Impaired Unit.

Each student received a prize, regardless of how they placed, since the aim is make them all feel loved and special and their efforts appreciated.

Linden’s star athletes, Chantoba Bright and Compton Caesar also received prizes for their success at the just-concluded CARIFTA Games.

OTHER ACTIVITIES And, despite the NGO’s focus being on students and education, ventures also include senior citizens, with 250 of them receiving hampers at the annual senior citizens’ lunch hosted by the Linden Mayor and Town Council.

Members of the Dream Team also volunteered to serve the elderly for that day.

While most of the activities are done during the Linden Town Week, The Dream Team also hosts a two-week summer camp for students during the August vacation, at

Members of the Linden Dream Team

LDT Chairman, Ms Marlyn Waterton

the end of which each participant leaves with a bag filled with school supplies.

At Christmas-time, the team hosts a Christmas Party for disabled students, while throughout the year, it hosts several book drives.

So, when you put on your ‘theme colour’ and attended the LDT party on Friday, you will have put a smile on the faces of the students in Linden. This year’s party themed, ‘Blue Explosion’.

In October, a ‘Colour Release Party’ will be held in New York, and the proceeds from that also will go to the ventures.

“Every year,” Waterton

said, “we come together and pick a colour. This year, we just brainstormed, but we didn’t realise that the kids of two of our members in the organisation are autistic; and April is Autistism Month and the colour for that c month is blue.

“So we were happy that we also picked that colour in recognition of Autism Month.”

The Linden Dream Team would like to express its appreciation for all the support it has had over the years from the regional authorities, but most importantly from the people of Linden who show theirs by attending their events.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

A synthetic track’s a MUST

--for the MSC Ground “DILAPIDATED” is the word used now to best describe the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, a facility that once was the envy of community grounds in Guyana, especially during the pre-independence era.

Built and established in 1951, a gift to Linden from the then Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA), the ‘MSC Ground’ has had its name etched in history as the place where Desmond Hector and Marian Burnett were first introduced to the world before going on to represent Guyana at the Olympic Games.

Besides being the place where the great Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond became a household name in football, the MSC Ground also holds profound memories for the ‘Hitman’ Collie Hercules, arguably the best striker Guyana has ever produced.

More recently, Guyana’s team at this year’s CARIFTA Games grabbed eight medals (four golds, one silver and three bronzes). Two golds and two bronzes were won by athletes from Linden who call the MSC Ground home.

Linden’s dominance at the National Schools Track and Field Championship is well documented, where under the ‘Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani’ banner, the Dis-

The Mackenzie Sports Club Groub trict (10) won 15 titles; and it is the MSC Ground that facilitates all meets in the area.

Recently, the Government of Guyana announced that a synthetic track will be laid in Linden at an estimated cost G$210M, but now, the ‘authorities’ are at loggerheads over where this facility, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND for the community, will be located.

POLITICS? There is an unwritten rule that says, “Sports and politics is like trying to mix oil with

water”, which is like saying they just wouldn’t blend. But that’s far from the truth. In fact, sports and politics go hand-in-hand, and understandably so, sometimes.

The synthetic track going to Linden is a campaign promise being fulfilled by the APNU/AFC Government, just like the G$110M lights at the Albion Sports Complex under the PPP/C Government in 2014, and the country’s first ever synthetic track that was built at Leonora, which, by the way, was an insult to the people of Guyana.

Under both administrations, Linden has suffered; that should be “stifled”, when it comes to infrastructural development, let alone for sports, especially from 1993.

Linden is seen by the PPP/C as a stronghold for the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNCR), the dominant party in the APNU+AFC coalition, and as such, it is yet to receive the goodies that many would have expected.

The Albion Sports Complex was built in the early 1970s, while the MSC

Ground has been in existence for 66 years.

Between 1977 and 1985, the ground hosted five OneDay Internationals (ODI), with the West Indies facing the likes of Pakistan, New Zealand and England during that period.

However, while it can be boasted that the MSC Ground has hosted international basketball, and football matches, it must be noted that the Linden facility serves an entire community, and its upkeep, or lack thereof, can have both negative and pos-

Action at the 2017 Inter-Schools Relay Championship (Samuel Maughn photos)

itive effects on the athletes.

Point is, the PPPC could have gone to the Blairmont Community Centre Ground, which is also rich in local cricket history, but instead, they chose to maintain and help enhance a ‘legacy’.

Region 10 Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, in the March 17, 2017 edition of Chronicle Sport, announced that the Bayroc Community Centre Ground was the place chosen to establish the synthetic track, but this could be a farce, since, according to a wellplaced source, the Guyana Government has not done any feasibility studies for any venue in Linden. Also, there exists an agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for a FIFA Forward Programme to be built at the Bayroc Community Centre.

FIFA-contracted inspector Dr. Stephen Baker had visited Guyana on August 26, 2015 and conducted soil testing at the Bayroc facility, and there is an already approved architectural design as well.

The Christianburg Community Centre Ground will also be a beneficiary of a FIFA Forward Programme, where an artificial turf will be installed, along with lights, dressing rooms and upgraded stands.

As such, it is only fitting, in terms of historical relations and ‘political etiquette’, that the MSC Ground be chosen as the venue for Linden’s first, well deserved, and long overdue synthetic track.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

Overcoming the challenges

--Vybz Entertainment talks survival in the entertainment business IT may be seen in some quarters as a runaway success, but according to franchise holder, Vybz Entertainment, hosting the Linden Town Week is no walk in the park.

Reflecting on the many hurdles the group has had to overcome in the last two years to deliver on their promise of a bigger and better event this year, Company Director, Mr Lincoln Zephyr told the Guyana Chronicle: “The first two years were kind of a little rough patch because of the many challenges.

“The first year we had the election period to compete with; the second year we had the Jubilee period to compete with, so it was kind of challenging to get corporate support and literal support from people, but we were still able to take on the challenge and move forward with it.

“But this year is a much better year for us.”

Giving a little background as to how it all started, Zephyr said: “Vybz Entertainment is a group of young entrepreneurs and business personalities within the Linden community who came up with the idea that we should try and revive Linden Town Week somewhat.

We pooled our resources and we ran the franchise for three

years.”

The Vybz Entertainment team, he said, is chaired by popular singer, Mr. Winston Caesar, and has members ranging in occupation from promoters, to teachers, entrepreneurs, youths, to public relations personnel among other fields of endeavour.

THE TURNAROUND But to get back to the challenges and how they managed to overcome them, Zephyr said they began the turnaround by reviewing the 2015 and 2016 Calendars of Event and adding quite a few novel ones, all in an effort to remove the ‘one-bigparty something’ the event had come to be regarded as over the years.

“We tried to bring events for every age group, every gender... we have social events, sporting events, partying events, jazz, international night, all-black, which is highly anticipated, the Wismar Night,” the young businessman said.

“We also have a lot of sports events, we have DJ spin off competition, food festivals, games night, the health fair was good, this year is a packed calendar and has so much to offer,” he added.

They also did their best to decentralise some activities by having them hosted by several

communities across Linden, among them Amelia’s Ward and other communities on the Wismar shore. On that score, he applauded the corporate sponsors for coming on board with them, which has helped tremendously in making the 10-day event the success it has already been touted to be.

They also owe a debt of gratitude to the government for lifting the ‘2am curfew’ on all events throughout the week of activities.

“One of the key things of this year’s Town Week is that the Government of Guyana has heard our cry and lifted that curfew; that is a very, very big part in the success of Linden Town Week,” Zephyr said.

INVOLVING THE KIDS While many children may not be allowed to attend events at night, Vybz has considered them and has in store several events for their enjoyment of clean fun during the day. In addition to the educational programmes, Vybz on Thursday hosted a day of sports, which saw schools across Linden competing in several track-andfield events.

Following this was a school concert on the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park, where Linden’s local artistes were sacheduled to entertain the children free

Vybz Entertainment Director, Lincoln Zephyr

of cost.

Other events involving the kids were the Freestyle Dance Competition, the Skip to My Lou Competition, and the Debating, Essay and Spelling Bee Competitions.

Those billed for over the weekend are swim meets, Teen Zone and the Arts of the Lawn/ Literary Fair.

PROTECTING ITS INVESTMENT Vybz entertainment has also sought to help resolve the conflict with other promoters and entertainers in Linden,

which has over the past two years seen the franchise holder being labelled as ‘selfish’ for not allowing ‘the small man’ to also earn.

Lindeners had bemoaned the policy that no other event could run simultaneously with Vybz’s events, and this resulted in law enforcers shutting down sound systems and gatherings across Linden.

Zephyr explained that the move should not be deemed as selfish, but as a mission to protect the investment of Vybz and other major players.

“Vybz has to set the standard of how these activities should be run when they are running simultaneously with major events that Vybz has invested in, and what other investors may invest in,” he said.

“We have to try and protect the investments, because the reality is Linden and Guyana do not have an entertainment population as other parts of the world.

“In Guyana, you depend on one set of people to full your event; we would not promote these major street jams at every corner.”

Zephyr said that major beverage companies like Banks DIH and ANSA McAL will have their villages in Mackenzie, but other entrepreneurs will only be allowed to have a small

sound player; something that will not attract a large crowd.

Over the weekend, Linden is expected to see an influx of some 3000 visitors, and the highly anticipated events such as the Colour Party, the Regional All Black Party and the International Concert are expected to attract close to 4000 patrons.

As such, Vybz will be tripling up on security so as to ensure a peaceful event, since the police will have zero tolerance for violence and disorderly behaviour, given that the curfew has been relaxed.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR VYBZ Since 2017 is the final year for Vybz’s contractual agreement with the LMTC, the company has not definitively decided whether they will rebid for the contract.

If, however, they’re granted first preference, then more than likely, the offer will be considered.

Vybz is nevertheless proud of what is has been able to achieve in bringing Linden Town Week to what it should be: An event for all Lindeners.

But this does not mean the end of Vybz, as the company will continue to play an integral role in the entertainment industry in Linden.

Using LTW as a vehicle to push the green economy WHILE the focus for many may be the hype and celebration, former Minister of Agriculture Dr. Simpson Da Silva who hails from Corentyn Berbice is using the Linden Town Week celebration to educate Lindeners on the benefits of greening the town and how they can achieve the goal of a green agenda.

Simpson along with a colleague has decorated the Linden/Georgetown bus park with scores of plants, mostly medicinal, in an effort to bring to the attention of Lindeners the importance and benefits and growing their own food. The Moringa plant which Simpson described as a very nutritional plant is one of the project’s major highlights since it can be grown right in Linden, processed and consumed for several purposes. In addition, to leaning towards herbal treatment, Simpson is also highlighting the goal of eradicating food shortage through agriculture. “A primary goal that we focus on is zero hunger or eradicating hunger from the communities, eradicating poverty, health for all and education for all,” he said.

Asked whether the residents

Dr. Simpson Da Silva (left) and a colleague showcasing their plants at the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park

of Linden have been responding positively to the plant exhibition and the information available, Simpson responded in the affirmative and expressed hope

that with more support and education, Linden can become a green town. “I find that the people are embracing the goal readily and as it is explained to

them, they are willing to go back to their communities and ‘green up’ their households that’s the first thing I tell them, you cannot have a green state without hav-

ing a green household, we have to have green men and women and green boys and girls,” the doctor asserted.

Dr Da Silva also met with

the Regional Executive Officer, Gavin Clarke and the Regional Chairman Renis Morian. He also believes that since Linden is not seen as an agricultural town but a mining town, one way to break this mind set is to incorporate the green agenda through agriculture into the schools.

Teachers, he said should go back to the days of ‘show and tell’ so as to grasp the children’s attention from an early age. Once the agenda is infiltrated into our children’s minds at an early age, it will create a ripple effect in the holistic development of Guyana, Da Silva said.

On Friday, the team showcased 47 different herbs that are grown in Linden and demonstrated how the juices can be extracted and the plethora of uses for same.

This he said can create employment in the mining town of Linden. Simpson who is a veteran agriculturist is urging the Ministry of Agriculture to embrace the green culture and enact systems to have the agriculture, food, nutrition and health policy to be rooted at the household level in addition to the medium and large scale enterprises.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 29, 2017

THE WEEK IN RETROSPECT

Scenes from the Annual All-White Party

Gordon Moseley’s ‘Big Man doh go outa style’ party

Linden’s skipping championship

Orin Alleyne showcasing his ‘strength’ during a powerlifting event