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Ramotar not getting the best advice – Granger
– APNU pickets at OP over Linden electricity tariff hike
Opposition Leader, Brigadier (ret.) David Granger during the picketing exercise
By Gary Eleazar
Brigadier (ret.) David Granger, Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, would like President Donald Ramotar to urgently meet with, and engage the people of Linden on the issue of the electricity tariff hike.
The Opposition has been arguing that any increase to the tariff in Linden has to be accompanied by a menu of measures to address the economic plight of the Region 10 community.
Granger has upped the ante, in what he calls A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s solidarity with the plight of Lindeners and yesterday staged a picketing exercise at the Office of the President (OP).
Scores of APNU supporters lined the Vlissengen Road entrance of OP bearing placards, as well as an effigy meant to represent Lindener, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, in a coffin.
Granger in a brief interview with this publication said that he does not want the matter to become a political one, given that the people of Linden “can articulate for themselves.”
He said that “We are here to show solidarity with the people of Linden….We are here to call on the Central Government to not proceed with the hike…We are here to call on the President, personally, to sit down and speak with the Regional Chairman and other officials of Region 10, so that a consensual solution can be found to this crisis.”
According to Granger “there is a crisis,” and he reminded that the people of Region 10 are all against the increase.
“We are here to demand that there should be urgent attention to the economic development of the entire region.”
In seeking to express his optimism on a way forward, Granger says that he does not believe that all avenues have been exhausted.
“Ramotar should be flexible enough to sit down and speak with the Lindeners and people of Region 10, and listen to what they are saying.”
The Opposition Leader says that he does not believe that President Ramotar “is getting the best advice.”
Granger says that he does not believe that the Head of State is aware of the seriousness of the crisis or “the resistance of the people of Linden and Region 10.”
“There is an economic crisis in the Region….I am convinced that there is too much unemployment there…..There is too little industrial or manufacturing development. If Central Government changes its attitude, the money can be provided.”
“My advice to him (Ramotar) is to sit down with the people of Linden… this can be done within an hour….by Saturday morning we could be reading good news,” said Granger “but he (Ramotar) needs to hear what the people of Linden are saying.”
Granger was adamant that the problem facing Region 10 and Linden is “not something superficial…it is fundamental to the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Linden and Region 10.”
The APNU Leader suggested that should the President be flexible enough to “just sit and speak with the representatives in the region he would get a different impression…There is more to the crisis than the President is being told.”
He was clear to point out that in taking the course of action they are in solidarity with the region, “we don’t want to pretend to be brokers…it’s a Central Government and Regional Government matter…we don’t want to politicize it.”
Granger was adamant that between the Central and Regional Government it can be addressed.
“I don’t want political parties to make this a political issue and jump on the bandwagon shouting political slogans.”
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