Dear Editor,
There are moments in the life of a community when reflection must give way to candour. Linden Town Week, in its most recent form, presents such a moment. While we celebrate the vibrancy of our people and the richness of our culture, we must honestly ask whether we are using these platforms to advance the long-term interests of Linden.
As a born Lindener, I must state plainly and honestly as I always do, that this year’s Town Week represented yet another missed opportunity to reposition Linden as a center for investment, tourism, entrepreneurship, and regional connectivity.
Linden is uniquely positioned. It is the only town in Guyana divided by a river, offering tremendous potential for waterfront tourism, river tours, and recreational enterprise. Its blue lakes, historical sites, and industrial heritage remain under-marketed assets. More importantly, Linden serves as the gateway to Guyana’s interior and, with the Linden–Lethem corridor, stands poised to become a critical logistics and trade hub connecting Guyana with Brazil, the largest country and economy in South America by a wide margin, boasting an estimated nominal GDP of over $2 trillion dollars.
The possibilities for port development, cargo transport, duty-free zones, and the operationalisation of the Linden airstrip are real and urgent. Yet, these opportunities were largely absent from the Town Week agenda.
Instead, the event relied heavily on entertainment. While our local promoters deserve their well deserved commendation for bringing life and energy to the town, entertainment alone cannot drive economic transformation. The Linden Town Week should also function as a strategic platform for investment promotion, tourism marketing, and business development.
Equally disappointing was the failure to deliberately and aggressively promote local businesses and entrepreneurs. Across Linden and Region Ten, our people are producing wines, baked goods, bottled seasonings, pepper sauces, herbal teas, cassava and plantain chips, soaps, skin and hair products, clothing, crafts, and many other high-quality products. These enterprises reflect the creativity and resilience of our people, yet many continue to operate without the exposure and institutional support needed for growth.
Town Week should have showcased a strong “Made in Linden” brand through trade expos, agro-processing exhibitions, culinary showcases, business forums, and partnerships with tourism and hospitality stakeholders. Such initiatives could stimulate investment, create jobs, and strengthen community pride.
One bright spot, however, was the return of the Kashif and Shanghai football competition. The overwhelming support and attendance demonstrated Linden’s capacity to host major sporting events in a safe environment. This is clear evidence of the potential for sports tourism as part of Linden’s broader development strategy.
The core issue to this conundrum remains leadership and vision. The municipal government should prioritize strategic initiatives for Linden’s long-term growth, rather than focusing on internal miniscule conflicts, ego contest or celebratory events.
Future Town Weeks must include investment forums, tourism expos, local business showcases, and deliberate efforts to market Linden’s strategic advantages.
Linden stands at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively. As Guyana rapidly transforms, our town cannot afford to remain on the margins of national development. Town Week must become more than a celebration; it must become a declaration of economic intent and future ambition.
We owe it to the people of Linden past, present, and future to ensure that opportunities are not merely recognised, but realised.
Yours truly
Jermaine Figueira
Former Member of Parliament
