Lindeners were yesterday urged not to lose focus after one month of dogged protests which yielded concessions in several areas and Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon warned that if the promised results do not flow in two weeks, residents would be back out on the streets.
He said they were given an assurance of evidence of the creation of jobs within the next six months. He made the statement amid reports that the Guyana Government on Wednesday presented its version of the protest events to the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington (See story on page 3).
“As it relates to electricity, we ain’t paying that and we have asked that this situation be studied and investigated”, said Solomon as he assured that within the next six months sustainable jobs will be evident.
Solomon also praised residents for standing their grounds. “I always said that the struggle was carried by the leaders of this town. It was one that the people had control over”, said Solomon as he alluded to requests made directly to him by President Donald Ramotar during their meetings.
Solomon told residents that according to information from Leader of the Opposition David Granger, government has taken the Linden matter to the OAS. “They will complain”, he said, adding that additional information would be made available at another meeting scheduled for Mackenzie this evening.
In his discourse with residents, Solomon recalled the resistance of residents who he said put up cardboard in their show of being strong as the attempted to ward of pellets fired by TSU officers on a number of occasions during the protest. Three protesters were killed by police on July 18, the trigger for the extended protests.
“You can’t break the will of the people with guns but you have to sit and talk and that’s what they had to do sit and talk, guns and murder was no way necessary,” he said, adding that now the implementation of the issues agreed on is critical.
“With God on our side we have not lost this first stage of this struggle and with God on our side we will win this war”, declared Solomon. “If we don’t see progress in two weeks with what we called (for), in ten days we’ll be back on the streets.” This was supported by loud rounds of applause and shouts of “No retreat, no surrender” by the hundreds who had assembled on Burnham Drive and the surrounding area.
Solomon assured residents that they didn’t do anything wrong by their acts of opposing injustice. “You are the second largest town in Guyana and they tried to oppress you with this backward, devious dictator move with allowing only one Television station, utter nonsense.”
Signal
He reported that preparations have advanced for the TV station which the government has promised will be restored to Linden. Works are in train to ensure that the signal is extended to the far reaches of Region Ten, especially Ituni and Kwakwani.
“I don’t care who say deh gon carry deh investment elsewhere. Quote me on this: let them carry it. This town is very important and many more have come forward to invest. If Bosai wants to go, it’s ok because we have others willing come and invest right here so don’t let them try to bluff you,” he said.
He contended that on Thursday evidence surfaced of attempts to undermine the leaders of the town. He said that several projects for which contracts were awarded have seen no monies released by Central Government. Reference was made to the reconstruction of the Casuarina Drive, the stretch in front of the Mackenzie Hospital which is currently in a deplorable state.
On the issue of the reconstruction of the One Mile Primary School, which was destroyed this month by fire believed to have been set by arsonists, Solomon noted that a structural engineer continues to offer expert advice and reported that the top beams of the surviving structure need to come down and be replaced and the quantity surveyor is expected to be back at the site to do further works.
Community works will continue throughout the weekend and beyond as residents say they are determine to have the school reconstructed through their own efforts at the earliest possible time.
Mobilized
Member of Parliament of Region 10 Renis Morian challenged residents to stay mobilised to ensure that employment for residents is assured. He also said it is vital that the region completes its annual budget.
Morian added that Linden is poised to stand in solidarity with several staff members who were allegedly threatened. He said that a number of staff attached to the regional administration who were off the job during the period of the protest have been threatened. “They telling those employees that they would have to use the period for the annual leave,” he said.
Leslie Gonsalves, described by the chairperson of last night’s meeting, as ‘Chief Protester’, emphasized the role that prayer played throughout the protest. “Like the children of Israel we have crossed the Red Sea. I am truly confident that through this period there was not a single person who went to bed without a meal on their stomach. God was with us”, said Gonsalves, a regional councillor and trade unionist.
He also told residents that though they have passed phase one of the struggle for justice, they need to continue to remain focused. “I call on you to understand that the struggle ain’t done and we have shown them that guns and bullets cant wuk.” Gonsalves added that recognition had to be given to residents who turned out in their numbers, “they said it that you can’t hold on for a week”.
The extensive protest in the town came to an end on Tuesday following the signing of documents by the Government and opposition leaders on a review of the power tariffs and other areas. The Terms of Reference will see eight key areas of demands being addressed.
Back to normal
Meanwhile, life in Linden is back to normal with 98% of the business community re-opening.
Key to the return to normalcy was the ferry services which resumed operations on Tuesday. The ferry service in Linden is critical to the movement and business activities on the Wismar and Mackenzie shores of Linden.
Stabroek News understands that there has been a full resumption of work at Bosai. A few days prior to the ending of the protest, the management of the Chinese-owned bauxite company had appealed to its workers to return to the job as the company was at risk of losing critical markets.
The Toucan Call Centre had confirmed losing some of its customers but managed to maintain its key contracts. Efforts to contact the management yesterday to ascertain the level of staff resumption proved futile. The Toucan Call Centre is the second largest employer in Linden.
Proprietor of the Jac’s Hotel and Restaurant Stan Smith, told Stabroek News that about 95 percent of his workers were back on the job. “Just one restaurant remains closed but it should be opened on Monday.” He said business has been good and he can’t complain. “Apparently people were starving and they are happy to get back the things they are accustomed to”, he said.
At the meeting in Linden recently with President Ramotar, Smith had expressed the concern that he might not have been able to regain his full complement of staff.
Yesterday, the key shopping areas of the town bore evidence of slow business activity. Shopping was below average and the prices for a number of commodities especially vegetables and gasoline had noticeable mark-up.
“Kitty katta, kitty katta, things gon shape up. Our lives were set back by more than a month but that’s what sacrifice is all about,” said one market vendor.
Customers of one gas station complained of being exploited. “My God man, why some people like to overdo it so, gas ain’t raise nowhere else in the country and Majit (Shell Linden) got $217 on he board and when you go to deh machine is 230 for a litre.”
Linden/Georgetown mini bus drivers were challenged to have their fare return to its cost of $900. MP Vanessa Kissoon, chairing last night’s meeting, said that residents have been complaining that drivers have insisted that people pay $1,000
The Joint Services’ operation in the town has also come to an end, resulting in the removal of all the military camps and cordons numbering more than fifteen which were scattered throughout the town.
Stabroek News was informed that Army Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best was on the ground in Linden on Thursday to officially bring the curtains down on the operation. Reliable sources say that prior to leaving, Best paid a courtesy call on Regional Chairman Solomon.
It was estimated that close to 500 members of the Disciplined Services were in Linden during the period of the protest.
