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By Mark DaCosta- Linden, Guyana’s second largest town, located is in Region 10, has once again found itself grappling with severe flooding, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses. Following heavy rainfall on the night of 24 September 2024, the town’s inadequate infrastructure crumbled under the pressure, again, with entire communities submerged. Despite repeated calls for assistance, the central government has been accused of failing to take meaningful action, leaving the residents of Linden to fend for themselves.
Regional Chairman Deron Adams, speaking on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), has expressed deep frustration with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s lacklustre response.
According to Adams, the council has made every effort to put forward proposals for short, medium, and long-term solutions to address the flooding, including clearing critical outfalls and drains ahead of the December rainy season. However, their pleas to various ministries and agencies have largely been ignored.
The Chairman condemned what he described as a “masquerade” of officials who visit for photo opportunities without delivering the much-needed resources or engaging the community in any meaningful way.
The flooding has particularly impacted Linden’s central business district and several surrounding communities. Adams stressed that with the right support — both financial and material — the situation could be alleviated. However, the central government and its agencies, such as the Ministry of Public Works and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, have not responded adequately. As homes are destroyed and businesses suffer significant losses, the RDC has called for financial compensation for those affected, especially since similar support has been extended to other regions.
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has also stepped in, sending an assessment team to evaluate the damage caused by the most recent rains. The team, led by General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin, is gathering first-hand reports from residents in areas like Retrieve, Blueberry Hill, and Victory Valley. Benjamin emphasised the need for urgent action, calling on the government to allocate resources to aid in the recovery. He also assured residents that the PNCR would continue to advocate for them, ensuring that their plight is not overlooked.
For many residents, this recent disaster is not an isolated incident but a continuation of long-standing neglect. Mayor Sharma Raheem Solomon, a vocal critic of the government’s handling of Linden’s infrastructure, has repeatedly raised concerns about the town’s vulnerability to flooding.
Earlier this year, the mayor lamented the government’s failure to properly maintain vital waterways like the Hymara Creek, which could have mitigated the flood risks. Solomon, along with other local leaders, had protested the construction of roads and footpaths without proper drainage systems — an oversight he directly attributes to the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
The floods in Linden are a grim reminder of the government’s failure to plan and execute infrastructure projects in a region known for its Hilly Sand and Clay soil, which exacerbates drainage problems. Despite the government’s expenditure of $77 million on drainage and road projects in the town, the quality of the work has been substandard. Poorly constructed drainage systems have collapsed, worsening the flooding, while crucial desilting efforts were ignored.
According to an official on the RDC, the situation is now reaching a critical point, with the town’s residents feeling deliberately marginalised. Many accuse the PPP of political discrimination against Linden, which is predominantly an opposition stronghold.
They believe that funds for infrastructure have been misused, with lucrative contracts awarded to political allies rather than qualified professionals. Mayor Solomon has openly criticised this practice, arguing that it has further jeopardised Linden’s already fragile infrastructure.
The human cost of this neglect is staggering. Hundreds of families have been displaced, their homes and livelihoods destroyed. The emotional and financial toll on the community is immense. The PNCR’s visit has provided some hope, but there is a growing consensus that without immediate, meaningful government intervention, Linden will continue to suffer the consequences of inadequate infrastructure and political neglect.
As the town braces for the upcoming rainy season, residents are left wondering whether the central government will finally step up and provide the assistance they desperately need, or if Linden will be left to fend for itself yet again.
