President pleads to Lindeners for normalcy in open letter

President Donald Ramotar last night pleaded with Lindeners to return the bauxite mining town to a state of normalcy, as the community entered its fourth week of protest actions over electricity tariff hike.
In an unusual move, the Head of State issued an open letter to the people of Linden, insisting that the government has the mining town at heart, and blaming ‘desperate extremists’ for misleading them.
Ramotar also touched briefly on the deaths and injuries to protesters, while expressing his commitment to a Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy.

“I am aware of the great hardships and difficulties that you people are facing as a result of the blockading of roads and bridges within your community,” the letter stated.
“Through no fault of yours, you are being subject to unnecessary and needless suffering. I also share in your pain and grief and the pain caused by the tragic incidents of July 18 when three of your citizens were killed and many others wounded.

“On that infamous day property was also destroyed in arson attacks, leaving many persons without jobs.
“I have committed to a comprehensive Commission of Inquiry into these incidents. Work is being finalised so as to have consensus on the terms of reference of the commission and its inquiry. I believe that justice will be achieved.”

Ramotar also stated that as President, he has undertaken to have an inclusionary approach to deal with Lindeners’ concerns “including the electricity issue which precipitated the events of July 18, last.”
“I have put on hold the new electricity tariffs and will appoint a committee to review all dimensions of this issue and to recommend options for a resolution of the problem.”
According to Ramotar, the electricity woes Linden now face preceded the PPP/C’s election to office in 1992.

“By then the bauxite industry was in dire straits.  In order to remove the financial burdens on the then bauxite company, the government was forced to assume responsibility for electricity and for the two hospitals. At the time also the price of fuel was below US$20 per barrel. These prices have since increased astronomically, at times peaking as high as US$140 per barrel. It is because of the rise in fuel prices that the subsidy provided for electricity in Linden became unsustainable. As a result changes were necessary.”