Lindeners stage protest during Ramotar’s visit

Jan 26, 2014 News

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…most businesses shut their doors

Most businesses in Linden closed their doors, yesterday, and Lindeners left their homes to converge at the Five Corner (Washer Pond Road) to protest the President’s commissioning of the newly refurbished PPPC office in Industrial Area.
People lined both sides of the street, holding placards and voicing their disapproval. They chanted as a popular music system blared the popular Bob Marley song ”Chase those crazy bald heads out of town”.
There was also a heavy police presence but that did not quell the vociferous chants of the people condemning the government’s attitude towards the residents of Region Ten.
Later, as the President and his party took their leave, the chants grew even louder while the sound system blared, “I’m not afraid of you’. Residents shook their placards at the passing vehicles.
One irate resident declared, “He come here like a thief in the day, we don’t even know which vehicle he in, not a wave, a handshake, nothing. Is like we is nothing!”
Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, reflecting on the President’s visit, said, “This is total disrespect- it is disrespect to the highest. For the President to come to this region, and not even have the common courtesy or manners to inform, or pay a courtesy call on the Regional Chairman, is total disrespect.
“This is more disrespect added to what has already been shown with regards to the non-implementation of those things that for signed for in the August 21 agreement.”
That sentiment was echoed by a wide cross section of residents.
RDC councilor Mayfield Greene who was visibly upset, said, “I feel if they had honored that August agreement, this what happen here today would not have happened, but people feel that enough is enough and the attitude of the President is totally disrespectful.
“How could you have a Regional Chairman, and go into that Region, and not inform him?”
Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary  of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, said that he was encouraged and energized  by the stand taken by the people, who were standing up for their rights to see the implementation of the August 21 agreements.
Lewis applauded the position taken by Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon
“I believe the Regional Chairman has touched the right cord; the point is people hold their leaders accountable, and what the chairman is doing here is accounting to the residents for his stewardship.
Lewis said that Central Government wanted to blame the region for the non implementation of the agreement, but alluded to the issue of the transmitter, which he called ‘a simple thing’.
He said that all that the region is expected to do is for their representatives to put their hands out, and receive from the Government. He added that the timeline for the return of the transmitter has already passed, and that there is nothing forthcoming from the government.”
Lindener Jonathan Adams declared, “One gets the impression that a building is more important than the well being of the people based on everything that has transpired.”
Another resident, Winston Caesar, noted, “Opening a PPP office is not a national event, but they can find time to come here and do that, instead of coming here to look into the interest of the residents of this community who are suffering.
This says clearly that there is partisan politics, at the seat of the government when it should be bipartisan.”
The PPP/C Region Ten 0ffice was commissioned by President Donald Ramotar, who had earlier travelled to the mining town with an entourage that included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.
Both the Prime Minister and the President in their individual addresses spoke at length of what the PPP would have achieved over the years since attaining office.
They condemned the positions taken by members of the opposition, as regards both the Amaila Falls hydro project and the Marriott Hotel. They said that the Marriott would bring cheaper electricity and in the case of the Marriott, help to promote the tourism industry.
And while the Prime Minister was delivering his address to party supporters who had gathered under three tents, for the commissioning of the party office, Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon was making another speech to residents converged at the Five Corner, concerning the lack of respect shown to the people of Region Ten, by both the President and the Government.
Solomon later told the media that the shut down yesterday was not in protest of the government commissioning its new office here.
“We are a very democratic region; we believe in the rights of every citizen to exercise their religion or their politics and whatever it is that individuals choose to practice, those things are guaranteed in the constitution. We respect and believe that is the right of every citizen.
After 17 months, and an agreement written in blood- three men would have died; the community would have demonstrated that it needed the elements in the agreement to better the lives of citizens.
“All these elements are the rights of citizens. The right to television the right to access information, the right to be part of decision making, the right to have economic freedom and to have so many things that they should enjoy.”

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