IT is quite significant that the outgoing leader of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin, should have considered it necessary to warn Lindeners against the “wild men” in their midst.
He did so when delivering his farewell address at Friday’s opening session of the party’s 17th Biennial Delegates Congress that concludes today with election of a new leader.
In a  reference to last week’s crisis situation involving the shooting deaths of three Lindeners and subsequent serious criminal acts that erupted following a confrontation between the police and angry protesters over a phased hikes in new electricity rates, Corbin  told delegates:
“The PNC calls on the people of Linden to maintain their resolve and not allow the recent incident to out the fires of their legitimate struggle for survival….
“The solution to the Linden crisis”, he argued, “lies in the creation of jobs, the end to discrimination..”. But he cautioned them to “beware of the wild men in your midst who have their nefarious agendas…Our (party) activists must not be misled by those who seek to use their genuine problem to satisfy their own agendas or to achieve public recognition…”
The day before Corbin addressed the PNCR delegates congress, Dr Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, had told the media that “extremists” were hindering constructive efforts  to resolve problems affecting the Linden community.
Dr Luncheon had pointed to, for instance, dialogue between the government and representatives of Region 10 to defuse tension and misunderstandings  in the quest for practical solutions but blamed “the extremists” who have their own agendas for prolonging a crisis atmosphere.
Yesterday,  against the separate warnings about “wild men” among Lindeners (Corbin) and “the extremists” (Luncheon), President Donald Ramotar was scheduled to visit Linden for a personal assessment and meeting with representatives of Region 10.
Ahead of his scheduled visit the Head of State had instructed the joint security forces (police and army) to ensure that  all blockages to access roads and bridges, including the main Kara Kara Bridge, are completely removed with a view to influencing an environment for peaceful and constructive dialogue.
However, even as this editorial was being written yesterday morning, there were reports from Linden of difficulties being encountered from non-cooperating elements for an end to the blockade across the Kara Kara  Bridge as  elements sought to maintain a confrontational atmosphere.
Region 10 chairman, Sharma Solomon, apparently unsuccessful to enable a positive mood  for removal of all blockages of public routes, was reported as proposing that instead of a planned meeting with President Ramotar at Watooka House, the event should be switched to the Amelia’s Ward area to overcome the need for unhindered access across the Kara Kara Bridge.
However well intentioned, the reported suggestion of the Region 10 chairman may be, he should at least recognise the implications of genuflecting to mob rule instead of upholding the rule of law. Worse, to do so in the absence of any gesture from the “blockaders”  for an end to confrontation in preference for peaceful dialogue.
In the end, even after delaying his scheduled visit to facilitate the joint security forces in their efforts to clear the Kara Kara Bridge in the face of provocation by those seemingly bent on confrontation, President Ramotar chose to cancel the trip and await further developments.
An official statement yesterday afternoon from Office of the President said Mr Ramotar cancelled his planned visit to Linden on the advice of Heads of the Joint Services.
The Office of the President also expressed regrets at the cancellation of the visit, “particularly to those stakeholders who had assembled at Watooka House for the planned public meeting and consultations with the President and his delegation”.
It is quite evident that the confrontation status quo in Linden cannot be sustained to make a mockery of the rule of law and while the mass of Lindeners continue to suffer by the disturbing self-seeking political agendas in the mining town.
It is to be assumed that there will also be a statement from the joint security forces on the embarrassment suffered while avoiding the provocations of either those deemed “the wild men” or “extremists”.
This is a challenge that requires serious reflections for appropriate responses, consistent with the rule of law and  the defence of democratic governance by a legitimate government.