Dear Editor,
As the situation in Lethem worsens due to the acute shortage of critical supplies, such as rations and fuel, as a consequence of the protest action in Linden, residents of this community are wondering if we are collateral damage in this ongoing saga and whether our needs are not considered important enough for those so called freedom activists, leaders and politicians to encourage the protestors to allow at least fuel and rations to pass through en route to Lethem and other outlying communities which are presently being affected by this protest.
Most residents of the Rupununi are sympathetic to the cause of the Linden community and feel that it is their right to fight over their perceived injustices, especially since it primarily relates to basic “bread and butter” issues.
However, there have been some recent actions by the protestors which seem to indicate that their fight is now becoming political and they have very little interest or sympathy for those outlying communities who are being critically affected by their actions.
I cite a specific instance where the protestors in Linden allowed at least six minibus loads of people from Lethem to pass their blockage points simply because the passengers were PNC members who were on their way to GT to attend congress.
Such an action is completely unacceptable in light of the fact that basic and critical supplies are being denied to Lethem because the vehicles are not being allowed to pass the protest points. Yet PNC Congress members were allowed to pass through without incident.
Such action clearly points to there being a political twist to this protest and seems to indicate that Linden is losing focus on what is their primary goal of the protest action. Such action will lead to a loss of support for this protest.
One wonders how the so called freedom fighters, community leaders etc can explain the action of these protestors of allowing PNC supporters to pass through yet deny basic and critical supplies to reach communities which are on the verge of total collapse due to the acute shortage of critical supplies.
One wonders if it was the hometown of these so called freedom fighters and leaders that was cut off by this protest action and their families were on the verge of starvation and hardship, whether they would have been so actively in support of this action.
There should be a humanitarian side to the protest action in Linden and the leaders of this action should show true leadership by ensuring that no other community is unduly affected. The leaders should be working fervently to try to get the supporters to understand that, while their protest should be to force the government’s hand on their issues, they should not unduly affect or punish other communities who have similar economic and social hardships as them. As such there should be no instance where critical supplies such as rations, fuel, medical supplies etc should be cut off from the outlying communities who have to pass through Linden.
Even in the most war torn areas of the world there is always a humanitarian effort to ensure that food, water and other critical supplies are not denied to civilians.
If those leaders who are in charge of this protest are worth their grain of salt, then they should immediately ensure that a humanitarian effort is made to relieve those who are being critically affected by the blockage of the road to the hinterland. Anything otherwise would prove that they are no different to the government who they feel has brought hardship upon them.
I wonder what those residents of Lethem who were allowed to pass through to attend the PNC congress are saying to their leaders. One sincerely hopes that they are updating them on the critical situation and asking them to use their influence to allow rations and fuel to pass through Linden to appease the critical situation.
Lastly, it seems that the government considers communities such as Lethem collateral damage in this protest for they have not made a single attempt to try to remedy the shortages in the community. If they do not act quickly, they will end up with another unrest which would further undermine their leadership. Probably this is what the opposition is aiming for by encouraging the protestors to block off the vital supply route.
As this protest in Linden continues into another week with no end in sight, the time is now for decisive leadership from both the opposition and government to attempt to resolve the issues or at least ensure that no other outlying communities continue to be affected.
If nothing is done within the upcoming week to alleviate the difficulties being faced in Lethem, then no political leaders from either the opposition or government are welcome in the Rupununi for they have abandoned us in our time of need.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
