President Donald Ramotar is urging an immediate return to normalcy at Linden even as he has indicated that his Government is amenable to meeting relatives of the three persons who lost their lives during the power tariff protest on July 18, and to offer assistance to them.
GINA said that in an address to the nation this evening on radio and television, Ramotar restated that any continuation or escalation of tensions will compound the difficulties and, noted that the situation is having serious effects on other communities in Region 10 and on the residents of Regions of 7, 8 and 9.
“I remain deeply concerned about the ongoing unrest in the mining town. Already, the blockading of major arteries in the area has disrupted life in the communities, led to loss for businesses, threatened the provision of critical social and utility services such as health, water and electricity, and led to an escalation of food and transport costs for Lindeners and interior communities beyond. If this continues it will do irreparable harm to the opportunities for investments aimed at creating more jobs and improving the living standards for the Linden community and Region 10 as a whole”, GINA reported him as saying.
Ramotar repeated the government’s commitment to discuss options for implementing electricity tariff restructuring in Linden.
“I am willing to examine all options. I will establish a technical team to review all available and practicable options and attendant implications, financial and otherwise to move the process along. But I emphasise that we cannot make progress in an environment of strife and disruption,” he stated.
He said he continues to meet with a range of stakeholders.
“I have met daily with a number of stakeholders ranging from political, business and regional administration representatives to try to bring an end to the problem. I have met with the Chamber of Commerce of Linden, the opposition political parties and the Private Sector Commission. Over the weekend there have been several meetings of note. On Saturday, l invited and briefed the diplomatic corps and the international development agencies. On Sunday I met the Leader of the Opposition and the Private Sector Commission. On Monday, I met again with the Regional Chairman, Mr. Sharma Solomon and his delegation. These engagements with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including the people of Linden will be ongoing.”
