Linden shutdown in face of electricity protest

Apr 19, 2012 News

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Economic activity, including the ferry services in the mining town of Linden

yesterday halted, as citizens took to the streets to protest the impending increase in electricity tariffs for the town. The protest which is the fifth one to date was dubbed one of the largest ever in Linden.
Stores were unopened as were offices and the commercial banks.
Residents on the Wismar shore turned out in droves and marched down Burnham Drive in Wismar, crossed the Mackenzie Wismar Bridge and wended their way over to the Mackenzie shore where they converged with their counterparts at the Mackenzie market square.
Throughout the peaceful protest the people chanted, ”No increase in electricity; Ashni eyes pass we,” “No increase in electricity, Sam Hinds eyes pass we!” And  “Let dem tek back de laptop and gi we electricity”.
At the Mackenzie market square several speakers, including APNU’s Aubrey Norton; Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis; Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon; and Charles Sampson, and a board member of the Linden Utility Services Cooperative Society, addressed the gathering.
APNU Member of Parliament, Vanessa Kissoon, who played a pivotal role in organizing the protests, addressed the gathering before leaving to attend parliament in Georgetown.
Kissoon said, “We got to get University like Berbice, and more TV stations like Berbice; and more jobs like Berbice. We got to send a strong message to Sam Hinds and Robeson Benn, because they doing this thing because we voted APNU. No more one TV station , no more mauby water, no more chippy roads- we will deal with the issues.”
All of the speakers condemned the proposed hike, with Charles Sampson calling the decision “punishment’ for Linden, for being a community that shows a lot of resistance.
“But this community will not pay one cent more for electricity. Sam Hinds said that the subsidy is $3 billion. Now what we have to ask him, is where we gon find $150 million per month to pay increased electricity? This is the beginning of the struggle-we have to prepare for the long haul.
“We live in a mining town and all the things we supposed to enjoy, we must continue to enjoy. We cannot afford to pay not even a penny more.”
Sampson said that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is behind the whole idea of increased tariffs, has never paid for electricity in his life– stretching back from the days when he was employed with the bauxite company. “Sam Hinds has no shame,” he declared.
His words were echoed by trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, who went on to say that when Hinds would have retired as a past president the state will pay his electricity bill.
“So what he would have done over the years is live on the backs of the people of Linden and the people of this country.”
Lewis further stated that when the government privatized the bauxite company, what they did was take away the “sweat equity” of the people.
“When you understand the genesis of this (subsidy) you are not being subsidised. The people who came here to work and build this Town- your foreparents- they accepted low wages for a future investment in electricity, water and other community services- and because of that it (electricity) is not being subsidised!
“What has been happening here is that what is being paid towards electricity by the government is because of what they did–take away your sweat equity-your sweat and blood. This is what it is. It is not about subsidy.”
Lewis described the issue as a burning and passionate one, and urged residents to stand up for their rights. “They will not go to Port Mourant, which they won and arbitrarily increase electricity, but they will come to Linden.”
APNU’s Aubrey Norton declared that Lindeners have to rally around their elected leaders, as they cannot deliver otherwise. “Don’t worry with Sam; Sam will come again and you shouldn’t even talk to him in the streets. This is a man who will deny you your rights.”
Norton described Hinds as a failure who even though he was employed with the bauxite industry as director of research never came up with one new product.
Norton alluded to the current state of affairs as it relates to GPL, and suggested that the whole electricity sector should be put on hold and that an independent inquiry should be established to look into the electricity sector inclusive of the Amaila Falls that they want to burden you with.”
“That is the reason why Sam wants to do it (increase rates).They draw down already– under the table as usual– and saddling the citizens of this country with a burden they cannot face. Are we going to leave a burden to our children?”
He emphasised that until such time that people could get decent and well paying jobs no increase of electricity should even be considered.
In reference to monies accrued from state lands sold by NICIL and which have purportedly been Unaccounted for Norton declared.”   So when we are going to commence the talk on the question of electricity in this country, first and foremost we must be on the agenda- they must put the money from NICIL in the Consolidated Fund; we must put the money from Lotto into the Consolidated Fund, and the money from the forestry commission.
“These are the monies that built Pradoville and other places. What they have been doing is riding on the backs of the underpaid and overtaxed. It is time that you people stand up for what is just and fair.”
Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon was adamant that the people of Linden must pay no increase.
Yesterday’s protest came on the heels of a rally held at the old Palm Tree Cinema last Saturday. At that rally several prominent persons, including Mr Carl Greenidge and Christopher Ram, sought to sensitize the people of Linden to the ramifications of the increased tariffs.
The rally saw hundreds of Lindeners turning out, and many vociferously condemning the impending increase, which they said is ‘unconscionable”, considering the economic ‘stagnation’ of the town.
Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, maintained that the budget has done absolutely nothing for Linden or Region Ten. And to increase electricity tariffs on top of that is to deliver a ‘double whammy’ of economic strangulation.
The Regional Chairman contended that the budget 2012 reflects a level of vindictiveness against the people of Region Ten. “This Government in the 2012 budget instead of giving to poor people, instead of taking VAT away from poor people, or reducing it, instead of giving pensioners and recipients of public assistance more, what they have done is give absolutely nothing to Region Ten,” he laments.
Solomon recently suspended the standing order of Council at the last RDC statutory meeting, in order to address the electricity issue. “There is absolutely no matter in Region Ten that’s more important than this right now, and we are going to suspend the standing order and deal with this,” he had stated emphatically.
Councillors had later condemned the proposed electricity hike, and many contended that it was a vengeful act against the people of Linden. (Enid Joaquin)

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