– denies reneging on earlier agreement with government
A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) is maintaining that an increased electricity tariff for Linden, as proposed by the government to take effect from July 1, will cause an additional burden on Region 10 residents. Speaking at that party’s press conference yesterday, Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon declared APNU as holding firm to its position that the increased tariff represents an additional burden that Region 10 residents cannot afford to bear.
APNU says that any increase in tariff has to be done in accordance with Guyana’s Constitution.
The Partnership expressed the view that government’s move to raise the tariff is vindictive, and does not take into consideration the economic reality of the people.
“Government cannot ask residents to pay for something that they cannot afford, since there is simply no income to pay the increased cost for electricity,” Solomon said.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presented a written statement to the National Assembly which said that, after consultation with APNU, it had been agreed that the electricity tariff in Linden would be aligned with the GPL tariffs, and that it was necessary to eliminate the Linden electricity subsidy.
It was also agreed that, guided by the principles of gradualism and selectivity, the tariff adjustment would proceed from 2012, with the transition to the aligned tariffs being introduced in a differentiated manner that cushioned the impact on the most vulnerable consumers.
The discussion focused on Linden and what could be done to ease and make good the transition of Linden into a regular Guyanese town, and the greater inclusion and participation of all of Region 10 into the programmes and fortunes of Guyana as a whole. More specifically, the matter of the Linden electricity tariff, along with other issues relating to Linden, was discussed, and it was agreed that the first stage of tariff adjustment this year would be implemented along the lines outlined, and in a manner that would ensure adherence to the allocation provided in Budget 2012, bearing in mind applicable budgetary constraints.
Prime Minister Hinds had also reported that, in order to promote accelerated growth in economic activities in Linden, government had undertaken to explore ways in which small business activities could be encouraged. In particular, government had undertaken to reactivate the post-LEAP/LEAF facility, now known as LEN, aimed at promoting affordable access to financing by small businesses in Linden and all across Region 10.
Government had also undertaken to engage the financial services sector on the possibility of establishing small business financing facilities in Linden along the lines of the WoW programme, and aimed at promoting more affordable access to financing.
In addition, with regard to television stations seen in Georgetown and the coast being available in Linden and across Guyana, government would shortly be granting, on application, additional ‘over the air’ television broadcast licences all over Guyana, including in Linden.
Meanwhile, questioned by the media whether APNU was back-pedalling on its April 17 agreement with government to increase the electricity tariff in the region, APNU‘s executive member Lance Carberry could not rationalise APNU’s position.
APNU is looking to move a motion in the National Assembly to reverse government’s decision on the Linden increased electricity tariff.