Linden riverfront forum advances tourism potential of river
─ best practices on river development highlighted
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, June 29, 2019
The Demerara River, which divides the town of Linden in two, is considered one of the most important assets to the town; therefore, Lindeners were urged to embrace and celebrate it at the Linden Riverfront Development Forum held on June 28.
The forum was the headliner on the calendar of events for the Linden River-Front Festival 2019.
In his presentation, Creator of the festival and Environmentalist Samuel Wright, who has pioneered the development of the river, described the meeting as a sensitisation exercise to enable residents and stakeholders to better understand their role in preserving the river.
According to the environmentalist, the Demerara River, connects all the town’s waterways including valleys, springs and creeks and therefore, all activities; domestic, commercial or recreational that occur in these waterways, affect the river. He pointed out that the two water plants source water from the river, to supply residents, as such they must take greater cognisance of this. “If we can manage the riverfront, we can manage Linden,” he told the audience.
Wright also suggested that Linden should be deemed as a port since the river not only facilitates bauxite transport but other necessary commodities for Linden as well as other riverain communities in the Upper Demerara Region.
Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair’s presentation focused on the tourism potential of the river as he urged stakeholders and officials to create spaces for business and tourism enterprise along the riverfront, such as boardwalks, regattas, various riverfront facilities. He noted that strides have been made in this regard with the recent construction of a $10M boardwalk on Burnham Drive by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the new water deck which boasts a restaurant and bar at the Watooka House.
Sinclair said an extensive River-Front Development Plan, is integral to an overall regional development plan. The aesthetics of the river and its immediate environs must be maintained as the river, and the water land connection has to be viewed as an integrated system he underscored.
Following the presentations, discussions explored how the various stakeholders can collaborate to ensure the plan can see fruition. Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall shared best practises and the approach that was taken by the Bartica Town Council to develop what has been deemed, one of the most beautiful riverfronts in Guyana.
Also present at the forum was Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arindell and her Deputy, Waignwright Bethune, Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh, President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes amongst other officials and stakeholders.
Images: Vanessa Braithwaite, Department of Public Information