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PPP/C kept ailing bauxite industry going to preserve Linden jobs – Hinds
The PPP/C yesterday held their Linden Rally at the Leiue Ken Pen Square on Burnham Drive Wismar where they exhorted a sizeable crowd that had turned out, to vote for them come May 11th.
Among the speakers were Dr Roger Luncheon, Bishop Juan Edgill, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Prime Ministerial candidate Elizabeth Harper, Bharrat Jagdeo and President Donald Ramotar.
The rally commenced at around three o’clock.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in his address, reminded of the days when the bauxite industry was struggling and how measures were put in place to ensure that it did not totally collapse.
Hinds said that the PPP/C has always been committed to Linden and has always been ready to embrace the people of the community.
Wismar, Linden
“When we came into office there was an International manager of the Bauxite Company that was managing the Bauxite industry here; and it came about that the PNC Administration had entered into an agreement that this manager, would be here for some two to three years and if the manager was able to turn the bauxite profits around and there would be people coming to purchase it, then it should be sold, and if it could not be made profitable then it should be closed down. That’s what the agreement said.”
He noted that the agreement was entered into by then outgoing PNC. Hinds admitted that that party may have been reluctant to enter the agreement but that they had to.
“So in 1994 when the Manager said that he could see no way to make bauxite profitable we should have closed down the bauxite industry here, but we didn’t. We did not proceed with the agreement, but instead we kept supporting and subsidizing the industry here.
And why we did it….. because we knew how traumatic it would have been on the people in this community and in the other bauxite communities. And we said we had to hold on because there were times when bauxite made a great contribution to our country, so we had to hold on and we had to look and see and find a solution to the situation.”
Hinds said that one of the things that could be proceeded with immediately was to approach one of the multilateral agencies, to seek another intervention, or support or grant.
He said that the aim was for the people in Linden, who had always looked upon the community as a company Town, to be given the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills, and thus give way to innovation in seeking to diversify the economic activity in the community, and ensure that there would be ‘some good living’ for residents.
Hinds, in reflecting on such a move, said that time had shown that it was the right thing to do.
He alluded to the Bauxite Company subsequently being managed by OMAI, which after about a year also encountered some difficult times and made the decision to close the company for a while.
The operations were subsequently closed for two months, Hinds said, adding that his party did not just stand by but committed to paying the workers a basic wage for that period.
However, in order to get the money it was mandated that each worker attend some classes in Information Technology to ensure that each of them became equipped to function “in this new modern world’ Hinds noted. He then asked the gathering whether this was reflective of a government that didn’t like them.
Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper in her brief remarks said that the PPPC has always recognized the critical role that women play in the country’s development.
She said that as the Prime Minister of Guyana she would ensure that those rights are protected.
Harper also spoke of the important role to be played by young people.
“You are one of the most valuable assets of our nation, and we want to encourage you to help build Guyana.”
Speaking about the Linden Technical Institute, Harper said that the institution would be targeted for development to give youths second chances.
She also spoke briefly on how as Prime Minister she would help in the development of various facilities including those for sports and health, and of establishing retirement homes and programmes to assist single parent families.
Roger Luncheon launched into verbal tirade as he alluded to many of the ‘’atrocities’ committed by the APNU and resorted to denigrating name calling throughout his impassioned speech.
Bharrat Jagdeo who was welcomed wholeheartedly by the crowd also spoke briefly.
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