GUYANESE across the ethnic/political multiracial divide in the Republic of Guyana are this weekend in a mood of apprehension following the eruption of fierce clashes between angry protesters and ranks of the Guyana Police Force in the bauxite mining town of Linden, well known political base of the main opposition  People’s National Congress, 65 miles south of the capital, Georgetown. What was expected to be a peaceful, orderly five-day protest, as started on Tuesday, against a government-approved marginal hike in subsidised electricity tariff for the

Linden community, shockingly deteriorated into bitter clashes the following day.
And a mix  of sporadic protests,  arson and the looting were occurring up to Friday amid much politicking by spokesmen from the government and opposition parties over the role of the police, and in particular demands for the removal of the top police officer (Clifton Hicken) who was in command on Wednesday when deaths  and injuries occurred.
In striking  contrast, while Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and APNU’s chairman and Opposition Leader David Granger were at one in calling for the removal of Hicken from his command posting in Linden, the Working People’s Alliance hastily distanced itself from such a development, deeming it “reprehensible”.
At the same time, as conflicting messages over “militant leadership” to confront the government were emerging from key personalities of the main opposition, PNCR—currently preparing for a leadership’ change at its delegates  congress this weekend—the minority WPA was stirring passion  for mass confrontation—beyond Linden.
For his part, acting Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell, who has been forthcoming in public statements in defence of the independence of the GPF from political influence or direction in the Force’s commitment to ensure a rule of law environment, has emphasised that “we are taking no political orders” in relation to the turmoil in Linden.
For independent observers, it may be difficult to appreciate the controversy that has arisen over commander Hicken, including the stand of Home Affairs Minister Rohee and varying postures being adopted by the opposition parties, while the terms of reference for an independent probe into the fatal uprising in Linden and related bloody developments are still being settled between the government and opposition.
Wednesday’s bloody conflict erupted across a bridge linking the town of Linden and the Wismar community when the police resorted to force after, as claimed, coming under threatening physical  attacks from  missiles hurled by angry protesters.
They had  refused the police orders to disperse  so that the bridge can become functional again to the benefit of the general and  vehicular traffic in particular. The  confrontation climaxed with three civilian deaths from police bullets and a dozen injured.
President Donald Ramotar was quick to express regrets over the loss of lives and injuries suffered and  announced an immediate initiative to establish an independent commission of enquiry, with an international component, to unearth “the truth” of what occurred on that  very tragic Wednesday.
The  European Union Delegation in Georgetown and other diplomatic missions were in turn to speedily welcome the government’s move for an independent probe as well as reveal their own anxieties for constructive dialogue between the government and the parliamentary opposition to diffuse tension and generate confidence-building.
Like the government and the parliamentary opposition, the foreign diplomatic missions,  would  be conscious of the haunting human tragedies  of murder, rapes, destruction to properties and mind-boggling dislocation of at least 3,000 individuals, including children, compelled into an exodus from  the mining region with the spectre of raw racism looming large in that horrific tragedy of 1964  often despairingly recalled as the “Wismar massacre”.

Gov’t/Opposition tension
The eruption of the police/protestors conflict  had coincided with ongoing political tension between the  PPP-led administration of President Ramotar and the combined opposition of the PNC-led coalition of parties, (A Partnership for National Unity) and  the minority Alliance For Change (AFC).
Together they  control a one-seat majority in the 65-member parliament, based on last November’s general election  at which the PPP emerged with the largest bloc of votes but, unlike the four previous elections from 1992, failed to retain its overall majority.
The anti-electricity political protests at Linden–which had occurred with the open support of both opposition parties–coincided with a related major development:
It was the temporary ruling, on the very Wednesday, by Chief Justice Ian Chang that the combined parliamentary opposition’s G$20B cuts from the country’s 2012 national budget were illegal .
Additionally, and more specifically, the  Chief Justice authorised the Minister of Finance (Ashni Singh) to restore to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), a constitutional body, the  almost GUY$100 million sliced by the opposition during the budget debate and to secure this originally allocated expenditure for 2012 from the Consolidated Fund. The cut had effectively disabled the  ERC from  carrying out its stipulated constitutional functions.
Choosing new PNC leader
Since the combined parliamentary opposition had criticised the government for involving the court on the budget cuts, on the assumption of sovereignty of parliament, its disappointment with the Chief Justice’s ruling was to be expected.
The scenario would be even more troubling for the main opposition PNC (dominant member of APNU)  as the Linden tragedies  and the Chief Justice’s ruling on the unprecedented budget cuts,  have occurred while the PNC is immersed in final arrangements for a crucial delegates  Congress  this coming weekend when a new leader is to be elected.
APNU’s chairman, David Granger, is expected to be the  elected successor to Robert Corbin, who is not seeking re-election but plans on maintaining an effective influence as a party executive.
Granger’s primary rival is a former PNC administration Finance Minister Carl Greenidge and lively, controversial  campaigning is underway, revealing in  the process some sharp divisions on leadership concept and style for that party at this time of depressing  national political trauma.