The government and Region 10 officials yesterday reached an agreement on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the technical team that will review the electricity issue in Linden but its composition is yet to be decided.
The government’s team, led by President Donald Ramotar and another team headed by Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon will meet again tomorrow, at which time each group would submit the names of three persons they want to have on the review team. Thereafter, the two teams will decide on a chairman.
Although it is unclear when the technical team will begin its work, once established it will report to the two sides fortnightly and will present a final report within 60 days.
It has been just over three weeks since three men were shot dead by police and at least 20 injured in Linden at the beginning of a protest against increased electricity tariffs that took effect on July 1. Despite protracted negotiations, the failure by government, opposition and Region 10 officials to actually come up with timely interventions has attracted criticism. Talks are still ongoing to complete the TOR for the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal July 18 shooting.
Following a meeting yesterday with President Ramotar, Solomon and other members of the regional delegation, Aubrey Norton and APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon, released the agreed TOR for the technical review at a news conference.
It was explained that the technical team will be established to examine all aspects of electricity generation, distribution and tariffs in Linden and without prejudice to the generalities of the foregoing, including:-
I. to review the existing provision and consumption of electricity in the Linden community, including the history, the costs, the tariff structure, and the subsidies;
II. to consider arrangements to provide electricity to the Linden community and the tariffs to sustain such arrangements within a sustainable time frame;
III. to examine Region 10′s economic circumstances inclusive of the affordability of increased cost;
IV. to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the integration of the supply of electricity in the Linden area into the national grid; and,
V. to examine and make recommendations on cost saving measures and options for alternative energy, including the facilitation of conservation education and conservation.
Speaking to reporters at the Sidewalk Café, Solomon said that the Region is sticking to the position that there must be a withdrawal of the electricity tariffs. He said that an understanding was reached that the TOR agreed on would guide the work of the technical team.
He also disclosed that a position was advanced for funding to be made available to carry out a study to develop an economic programme for the region. The participants of this committee would be arrived at by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), he noted.
He said that the region is also asking for the immediate appointment of a regional Land Selection Committee, based on the composition of the representation of the RDC, and the immediate return of the television station to Linden that was a gift to the community and the opening up of the airwaves for more television stations to be accessible.
Besides the TOR for the technical committee, Solomon said there has been no other agreement between the two sides. ”We have no conclusive decision on how are we to ensure normalcy is returned to Linden until these issues are addressed,” he explained.
He, however, noted that it has been brought to the region’s attention that there are attempts “by any means necessary to clear roads and protestors from off the streets” and he called such a stance very disturbing in light of the ongoing negotiations.
Norton interjected, saying such a move is “really an act of bad faith if the government at this point resort[s] to any form of aggression, because as it stands we are seeking to resolve the issues and a lot of the resolution of the issues really lie with the government.”
He stated that the government wants normalcy to return but “we are making it clear that once these demands are met, the withdrawal of the electricity tariffs, the establishment of the technical committee, the establishment of the economic package, the establishment of a regional-based Land Selection Committee and the return of the television station, we have made it clear that these kinds of measures will itself result in Linden people being satisfied.”
He said that the government had given an undertaking to look at the issues mentioned and negotiations will continue tomorrow.
Norton said that one of the arguments made is that there should have been a thorough study and consultation with the people of Linden before the tariff increase was announced.
Asked if any agreement has been reached regarding when the technical team would be established, he responded in the negative adding that tomorrow the names of their team will be submitted and then the government would submit their names. Norton said that the only barrier could be finding a consensus chairman.
He said that the people of Linden want a resolution and an end to the protest action. He said that he and his team had more than thirteen reference terms for the review team “and that we arrived at the amount that we have suggested that we have flexed, in fact, we have probably been too flexible to the point of being acrobatic.”
