PEOPLE’S National Congress Reform (PNCR) Executive Member, of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton has said the atmosphere in Linden continues to be one of protest. In addition, he said the residents are standing firm by their resolve not to pay increased electricity tariffs because they cannot afford.
Norton was among the APNU activists who joined Linden residents, after the latter travelled to Georgetown, to protest in front of the Vlissengen Road entrance to Office of the President yesterday afternoon.
Despite the many explanations offered by the Government, and moreso Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, for the rates hike, the Lindeners, according to Norton, are still of the strong view that they are being victimised for not supporting the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the 2011 general elections.
Norton said the picketers see the move, by the Administration, as one that was not thoroughly thought out and what should have, in fact, been done, was the bringing of Guyana Power & Light (GPL) rating in a line where citizens can pay less for their electricity.
He said, Linden people feel the government has caused the situation of GPL to get out of hand, especially in their case.
Sustainable employment
Norton pointed out that Linden consumers are not presently customers of GPL and it would be hard on them to pay the increase tariff, as many living in the area are not engaged in sustainable employment.
According to him, jobs were promised them, by the PPP, during their elections campaign but, to date, that promise has not been fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Youth Leader and APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Jones, who was also on the picket line, maintained there will be no paying of the increased bills expected to be delivered to the residents sometime later this month.
He insisted that the people of Linden will not be budging from that position and they are willing to go the long haul to ensure that there are no adjustments to the present rates they pay for the electricity.
Jones said the people of Linden are still of the strong opinion that the government needs to review its decision and put a hold on proposed rise.
Asked what would be the approach should GPL cut its service from the delinquent consumers in Linden, he said they will cross that bridge when that time comes.
In March this year, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, had said the tariff rise for Linden is not something that was decided after the elections as some people will want it to appear.
He explained that, for years, the issue has been on the table and the reality was that, one day, the bold step would have had to be taken to make the increase take effect.
Edghill said, then, that it was unfair for the rest of the nation to be paying for energy being used in Linden while the people in that community exercised little and, in some cases, no regard for the electricity they use without any approach to conserving.