Dear Editor,

In 1999 President Jagdeo, in what he called taking the government to the people, visited Linden and met with residents at the Watooka House. The welcome and support he received was what one can consider overwhelming especially from the youths of Linden. This was largely because young people felt he brought to the Presidency youthful exuberance, vision and the key to unlock the doors of unemployment, corruption and poverty.

Things have become worse for Linden. Hundreds of young men and women have left school and other institutions of learning equipped with qualifications and skills for a world of work that sadly does not exist here. The acres of land for agricultural purposes are sold or leased to big businessmen who already have economic power. No loans are available at the banks for young people who would like to start small business. We are caught in a cul de sac, a grim reality of hopelessness where we wear our poverty as a badge of honor.

What about the promises of new investment for Linden; the creation of employment, the Youth-Choice Initiative, better health care, pure water supply? What do you mean by pure water supply Mr President, the Banks DIH and DDL trucks that transport and supply bottled water to the Linden community?

I know that these are problems not confined to Linden but Guyana as whole. However, Linden is worse hit by those problems, the magnitude of which is quite appalling.

When will the eminent writers who write columns like Ian Mc Donald and Allan Fenty describe our problems at Linden?

It hurts that young people have to see our government, regional and municipal buildings as symbols of oppression. The situation in Linden is untenable and the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel cannot be seen.