In Linden Wednesday…

Hundreds rally against proposed electricity rates hike
THE Government plan to integrate Linden with the national electricity grid for supply to residents in the mining town met with strong protests on Wednesday.
Hundreds of Lindeners marched in the streets to a show their opposition to the proposal.
Government had announced that, from July 1, the tariffs that Linden consumers now pay, by way of subsidy, will no longer be enjoyed.
It is proposed to increase the charges until they are aligned to what is paid by consumers countrywide.
The Wednesday protest, which was the fifth since the announcement to hike the rates was made, attracted residents from all walks of life on the East and West banks of Linden. They marched the streets and finally gathered at Cuffy Square outside the Mackenzie Market, where they listened to many speakers condemning the Government move.
Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara /Berbice), Mr. Sharma Solomon called it a ‘double whammy’ and one that was vindictive to the Linden population.
He said:“This Government, in the 2012 Budget, instead of giving to poor people, instead of taking VAT away from poor people, or reducing it, instead of giving pensioners and recipients of public assistance more, what they have done is give absolutely nothing to Region 10.”
Only recently the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had suspended the Standing Orders at its last statutory meeting, where all, except one councilor, condemned the decision to hike electricity bills and bring them in line with those of Guyana Power & Light (GPL).

Shut down
Many businesses in Linden responded to the call to shut down operations for five hours on Wednesday and from as early as 06:00 hrs, people began congregating, as they arrived from all corners to gather for the rally, chanting slogans.
Among the chants were ‘Sam Hinds eyes pass we’ and ‘Let dem tek back de laptop and give we electricity’.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon, RDC Councillor Charles Sampson, veteran trade unionist Lincoln Lewis and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive Aubrey Norton were all at the rally.
Kissoon told the crowd: “We have to send a strong message to Sam Hinds and Robeson Benn, because they are doing this thing because we voted APNU. No more one television stations. No more mauby water, no more chippy roads, we will deal with the issues.”
Sampson, who has worked with the bauxite industry said: “This community will not pay one cent more for electricity. Sam Hinds said that the subsidy is $3 billion. Now, what we have to ask him is where we are going to find $150 million per month to pay increased electricity. This is the beginning of the struggle; we have to prepare for the long haul.”
Norton urged that the people of Linden must rally around their leaders. He advised them: “Don’t worry with Sam. Sam will come again and you shouldn’t even talk to him in the streets. This is a man who will deny you your rights.”
Lewis told the crowd: “When you understand the genesis of this subsidy, you are not being subsidised. The people who came here to work and build this town are your foreparents.”
He said the bauxite workers of old accepted low wages for a future investment in electricity, water and other community services and, because of that, the current is not being subsidised.
“What has been happening here is that what is being paid towards electricity by the Government is what they did take away – your sweat equity, your sweat and blood. This is what it is. It is not about subsidy,” Lewis declared.

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