PERTURBED by the scenes of unrest in Linden, Region 10, over the last two days, representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) sought an audience with President Donald Ramotar and a team of government officials yesterday. A meeting with the opposition and the PSC was also scheduled for 15:00hrs yesterday, according to outgoing Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo who told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the President was trying his best to find solutions.
The PSC had issued a press release calling for calm and the maintenance of peace following the ugly scene in the mining town that started off as a peaceful protest over government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs to the town’s residents who pay far less than other consumers on the national grid and use about three times more power. The protest escalated with three persons losing their lives.
On Thursday, President Ramotar and a team of government officials engaged opposition political party members and key stakeholders at the national and regional levels in talks.  Concerns about the security situation in Linden were shared and the pledge of the administration to have a full investigation was reiterated by the President.
There were a specially-convened meeting of Cabinet and there were engagements with the Linden Chamber of Commerce.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon appeared on television reading a statement on behalf of the government that the recent tragedy in Linden has created much anguish and led to a determination by the Office of the President to uncover the details of the incident.
Since the unrest, police have been dispatched to the community to reinforce the ranks already on the ground and the Joint Services are patrolling the area.