“I’m deeply disappointed and I am grieving for the loss of innocent lives during Wednesday  night’s protests by Lindeners that turned deadly.” Those were the solemn words uttered by People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Mr. Neil Kumar, in an invited comment to this newspaper on the events that took place Wednesday night in the mining town of Linden.
Mr. Kumar has worked with the people of Linden for the past 30 years and feels that Lindeners were “set up” by opposition politicians and made to believe that Government had abandoned them when this was patently untrue.
According to him, Prime Minister Sam Hinds had collaborated extensively with leader of APNU David Granger and Dr. Rupert Roopnarine to craft the letter which was read in Parliament during deliberations about subsidized electricity for Linden, which in effect meant that both politicians had supported government’s position on the issue.
He also feels that despite the criticisms leveled against the government about the increase in electricity tariff to Linden, Lindeners and government could have negotiated; that a compromise could have been brokered that was mutually satisfactory.
The MP said he can assure the people of Linden that President Donald Ramotar and his government  are working assiduously to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
He especially lamented the burning of the Linmine Secretariat. The fire which was started by the protesters resulted in the loss of important studies and data about the bauxite industry in Guyana. In addition, machinery that was being used to lay the pipes for residents of Linden to receive potable water was also destroyed by the rampaging crowds. The PPP’s office was also destroyed in the fire.
Mr. Kumar said that permission was given by the Police for the protest to be held but not for protesters to block the bridge. He opined that some Lindeners were imbibing and were also maliciously encouraged by Aubrey Norton and Lincoln Lewis.
Despite all that has happened though, the MP says he has confidence in the people of Linden that they will be reasonable in their deliberations over the challenges they presently encounter. It is understood that the business community along with residents and church leaders will be holding a rally shortly in an effort to have peace and calm restored in Linden.