Regional Chairman says community not satisfied

Dec 24, 2012 News

---

 
Stalled Linden/ Government Agreement .…
Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon says the community is not satisfied with the rate of implementation of the August 21st Agreement. Solomon yesterday said that the region is convinced that much more could be done by the Government of Guyana to deliver on its commitment to the people of Linden in particular and Region 10 in general.
According to Solomon, on the signing of the agreement, the community had stated that “the people of Linden/Region 10 will hold the regime, the national leaders and National Assembly leaders accountable for its delivery. We will hold civic society accountable for ensuring that Government and the Opposition deliver on their commitment and responsibility. The power rests with the people and will be applied until equal rights and justice is restored.”
Solomon said that those sentiments are more relevant now, adding that the people of Region 10 remain mobilized to ensure that this agreement is implemented. He said that the region believes that good sense must prevail and the Government must deliver on its commitment and honour the 21st August 2012 Agreement.
In terms of the Land Selection committee, Solomon said that the Region was tasked with the responsibility of establishing the Region 10 Land Selection Committee. He said that the region is pleased to inform the people of Guyana that it has established, keeping with the Agreement which states that”
The Regional Land Selection will comprise the Regional Chairman who chairs the Committee, the Head of Department of the GLSC and representatives from the various political parties represented in the RDC in keeping with the results of the last Regional elections”.
 
Return of Channel 13 to the people of Linden
Henceforth, Solomon said that the region, in keeping with the Agreement and immediately after the Agreement, delivered its application to the government to ensure that they could “facilitate the granting of the television license in keeping with the law”.
Solomon said that it is apposite to note that in the negotiations leading to the Agreement that the Region objected to any reference to the Broadcasting Authority and made it clear that it was engaging and agreeing with the government since there was no such authority and that the government had issued television licenses and that the Region expects the government to ensure that they are granted the licence. The Region has done what is required of it in keeping with the Agreement and expects to get its licence.

He said that the region has been doing what is required at the site of the dish as it prepares to give the people of Linden their desire – the establishment of their own television, ending the bombardment of government propaganda. Solomon said that the region has mobilized the resources and is ready to broadcast except that the government has failed to honour the Agreement and return the transmitter to the people of Linden. “The patience of the people of Linden has been over taxed and it’s time for the government to come good on its promise” Solomon noted.
The Technical Committee began functioning, Solomon said, but unfortunately, the Chairman of the Committee resigned. This has caused them to agree to a new chairperson. The two parties to the Agreement have been unable to agree to a new chairperson. He explained that the region placed the names of a number of competent and well respected Guyanese for consideration. The list includes Ms. Emily Dodson, Mr. Lincoln Lewis and more recently Mr. Earl John. He said that the region hopes that we can advance the process and agree on a chairperson in the New Year. Moreover he said that the Economic Committee has been unable to commence its work, since; the two parties to the Agreement, having named their teams have been unable to find agreement on a Chairperson in keeping with the Agreement which states that the committee shall be chaired by a “Chairperson that is agreed to by both sides.”
Solomon said Region 10 has tabled the names of the following persons for consideration as chairperson Ms. Desiree Field Ridley, Ms. Joycelyn Williams, Mr. Christopher Ram and Professor Clive Thomas. He said that no honest person would deny the level of commitment, competence, discipline and fearlessness the individuals recommended will bring to the task once agreement is reached.  Solomon said that the region will continue to advocate for a professional and competent chairperson who will be fair and is without fear of the Government. “Linden  will not cave in to the government’s pressure to appoint one who they could easily compromise and we  will be guided by the principles of competence, fair play and justice and will never agree to compromise these principles and appoint persons who are loyal to the government” Solomon said.

---

---