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Granger holds stakeholders forum in Linden
…denies agreeing to any hike in electricity rates
Leader of the Opposition, David Granger along with Rupert Roopnaraine
Granger holds stakeholders forum in Linden
last evening met with members of his party and major stakeholders in the mining town of Linden at a stakeholders meeting to clarify ‘certain misconceptions’ that were being peddled about A Partnership for National Unity “selling out” to the PPP with regards to the electricity tariffs proposed for the community.
In an emotionally charged atmosphere, residents packed the Len conference room to hear from the ‘horse’s mouth’ whether APNU had indeed sold them out.
Granger said that he made the trip to Linden after discussions with the Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon and Regional members of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon and Rennison Morian. They had expressed concerns about the line taken by the PPP administration, particularly as expressed by the Prime Minister in the National Assembly on Thursday, in which he made a certain statement.
Granger said that many people in Linden felt that the statement was prejudicial to their best interest, and subsequently voiced their concerns.
He however noted that it is the policy of APNU to ensure that there is no attempt to increase the tariff of electricity without dealing with the fundamental problems affecting the people. “So we had met with the PPP side to ensure that the interests of Lindeners and Region Ten residents generally were put on the table.
“So we did not agree to the proposal which is in the budget, for the increase in electricity rates. What we agreed to was the commencement of an economic programnme to relieve the poverty and other problems in Region Ten. And it is only after those problems are solved that we would pay attention to increasing rates. We made it quite clear that we were concerned with the welfare of the people in the region.”
Granger said that he was pleased with the two sessions in Linden, one on NCN, and the other at the stakeholders conference, where he sought to clear the air.
But some Lindeners are still skeptical and they voiced their concerns about many issues. Some said that they are prepared to take action with or without the support of the APNU.
Many issues were raised, including the numerous promises with regard to economic development, which persons contend remain just promises.
Mention was made of the promise to resuscitate the Alumina plant, and the still to be completed deep water harbour.
During the heated discussions Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon said that Lindeners have themselves to blame for a lot of the problems they face, “because we put our future in the hands of people, when we should take our future in our own hands.”
Solomon later confessed in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News that he is cautiously optimistic about a freeze in the proposed tariff increase, and what will result from the presentation by the Minister of Finance.
“But I have been given the assurances by the leadership of the APNU that they have not committed themselves to bring further hardship to the people of Region Ten. And I think that is the core issue that we’re discussing because an increase in tariffs will bring further hardship on the people.
“We’ve advanced a position to them that this matter should be taken completely off the table, and to only be discussed further maybe in the next two years, after the preliminary issues that were already on the table, such as jobs and the monopoly on the TV station, and all the other issues would have been addressed in a fundamental way.”
Since the reading of the budget presentation by Dr Ashni Singh, Lindeners have been becoming increasingly perturbed over the proposed electricity hike. Several protests were later staged with the most recent on Wednesday.
Tempers flared as many persons had vowed to burn anything green, after reports circulated in the mining Town that APNU had conceded to the implementation of increased tariffs.
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