US Ambassador interested in supporting Linden municipality
─ calls on Linden mayor and councillors
─ commends mayor for being very active in town’s development
DPI, Guyana, Friday, May 3, 2019
The United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann-Lynch has expressed interest in lending support to with the Linden municipality. Her offer came during a courtesy call on Mayor Waneka Arrindell, councillors and staff of the Linden Mayor and Town Council on May 2.
The US Ambassador commended Mayor Arrindell for her efforts in ensuring the continuous development of the mining town. She said the U.S embassy is willing to lend continuous assistance in whatever areas help might be needed. “We would like to partner with you and we will continue to explore opportunities,” she said.
Mayor Arrindell noted that while the Women’s Home in the town, assists in providing safe temporary accommodation, support could be provided in transforming the facility into an empowerment centre.
Additionally, the mayor shared her vision to transform Linden into a sustainable town by adopting some of the seventeen sustainable development goals that were adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2015. She emphasised the goal of providing ‘clean water and sanitation’ particularly in schools. Mayor Arrindell opined that by creating a clean and sanitary environment in schools, communities and constituencies would soon follow suit.
Chairman of the Economic Development Committee Lawrence Simon related to the ambassador and team that the township would also appreciate assistance in its aqua-tourism initiative. Simon said Linden is the only town that a main river passes through and this needs to be exploited.
Ambassador Lynch also noted the role played by agencies attached to the U.S embassy, mainly New Horizons, Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) and Peace Corps, in assisting the Linden Town Council.
New Horizons will be constructing two community centres in Linden and a women’s home. HAP has conducted several medical outreaches, donated to the Linden Hospital Complex in the past and is preparing for a massive two-week medical outreach in July. The Peace Corps volunteers are currently working in schools and are assisting the LMTC with its Junior Mayor project.
The US Ambassador was accompanied by a team that included her husband Kevin Healing, New Horizon’s Captain, Solomon Bannister and Peace Corp’s Official, Wendy Hershberger. She also visited some of Linden’s tourism spots during her visit.
Story and Images: Vanessa Braithwaite