THE government has offered to put on hold the July 1 deadline on which the electricity tariff hike was scheduled to take effect in Linden, and in consultation with officials from Region 10 and the political opposition,  has moved to establish a technical team to brainstorm options to the electricity tariff system.
The decision was promoted by the “inciting” protest actions and unrest sparked in the bauxite town, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon who addressed the public in the first of a series of daily Office of the President media updates on current national issues.
“This review would include all available and practical options and the attendant implications, financial and otherwise,” the HPS said.
Also, he said the government undertook to have members of the technical team named with collaboration from both sides and the team would draft terms of reference that would be agreed upon by both sides.
According to Dr. Luncheon, the various positions advanced by the government have been submitted to Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon, for a response.
Under the new electricity structure, Lindeners were slated to receive the first 50 kwh per month at the existing prices. The full cost for electricity in Linden is $ 75-80 per kwh. However, even after the first 50 kwh, bauxite pensioners will pay $50 per kwh, others $50 and commercial and industrial outfits will pay $65.
Dr. Luncheon stated that the July 23 meeting with the government and Region 10 officials and opposition politicians was candid with both sides committed to finding solutions to resolving the outstanding issues in Linden.
During dialogue with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) in April on the national budget, the government committed to resuscitating the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) that succeeded the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP).
The government encouraged the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region 10 in consultation with the community to submit by the end of August 2012 its list of priorities for economic activities beneficial to the Linden community and Region 10 in the short, medium and long-term.
The government also undertook to have the Ministry of Agriculture work with farmers of West Watooka and other parts of Linden to realise the potential in agriculture.
The establishment of a microcredit scheme for the region along the lines of the Women of Worth (WOW) programme and a commercial bank to facilitate the processing of loans for Linden and Region 10 specifically also formed part of the commitment.