Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud on Thursday said that a solution is on the horizon in the standoff over the toll instituted by Linden’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) for travelling through the municipality en route to interior locations.
Persaud told a press conference that he has consulted with the Attorney General’s Chambers to find “the legal support” in issuing an instruction to the Linden municipality to resolve the situation, which recently prompted the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to complain.
Earlier, the Ministry of Local Government and the IMC were in a standoff after the Minister in the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker said that the Kara Kara toll booth must stop functioning with immediate effect. The IMC had imposed a toll to raise revenue for an increase in workers’ wages. Chairman of the Linden IMC Orin Gordon subsequently said that the IMC will not terminate the operation of the toll booth.
Persaud said that the problem is one that is causing some discomfort to some sections of the population and that the Ministry of Natural Resources has written to his ministry on the issue.
He added that his ministry has since written to the municipality informing of its intent to revisit the matter, while adding that it is very close at finding a solution to the issue based on its dialogue with the Attorney General’s Chambers.
