Dear Editor,
The problems faced by the population at Linden have not been looked at conclusively by the media nor by the several commentators to date.
The community is a unique one since it was set up with certain known conditions forming part of the relationship between the residents and the owners of the bauxite business. Since 1915 residents were given certain concessions which formed part of their labour contract.
When the British Guiana Mine Workers Union became the official bargaining agency circa 1948 all negotiated wage packages took cognizance of the free water distribution, sanitation and subsidized electric supply.
From 1960 the West Bank was served and they were serviced by a co-op society with the residents there paying similar sums for their energy as those on the Mackenzie side of the ‘pond.’ Of note is the fact that concessions were also given to bauxite pensioners. Any attempt to remove long-etablished custom and practice would always be met with great resistance. These were entrenched conditions that were practically fought for over the years.
On the technical side the idea that Lindeners burn current 24/7 is not really understood by outsiders. If a system’s generated load factor is high the related costs of generation are generally lower. Thus Linden’s case is one of a system showcasing relatively higher efficiency and lower costs than what obtains in the GPL system. For these reasons Bosai, even with the low rates charged, can show a significant profit on the operation. I am willing to wager that with the subsidy being removed, Bosai can still generate and no doubt break even in the process.
I personally feel that the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Ltd (LUSCSL) ought to seek out a power provider’s licence and then court the ABC countries for a grant to have their own plant installed in the region. The proposed twinning with the AGPL will be fraught with both economic and technical difficulties.
The LUSCSL has a proven track record in managing a very good business and they can step up their efforts to become power providers. Linden possesses the greatest amount of skilled labour per square inch of this nation’s soil. That Linden boasts 70% unemployment at this time speaks volumes for our centrally directed economy.
Maybe the time has come for Lindeners to branch out and craft their own development.
Yours faithfully,
Cyril Walker
