President Donald Ramotar’s visit to Linden has been put “on hold” as protesters Saturday afternoon continued to block the Kara Kara Bridge the main entry and exit point to the community.
“The President’s visit to Linden is on hold,” Office of the President spokesman, Kwame Mc Coy told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com). He did not elaborate on whether and when Ramotar would go to the south-eastern town.
The Guyanese leader should have been Linden by 10:30 AM Saturday to meet with stakeholders and have a walkabout the town that has been tense but calm since last week Wednesday’s eruption of unrest following the killing of three persons and injury to several others while protesting against the increase in electricity rates from July 1.
A short-lived successful operation that saw police and soldiers remove huge logs across the Kara Kara Bridge appeared to have resulted in a rethink of the President’s decision. Security forces have so far failed to clear the bridge again and restore order. [more]
It is become clearer that there is the Office of the President and the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, based on the salaries paid to some party functionaries within that office.
The same Presidential Office that complained about Super Salaries upon the change of Government nearly two decades ago has some whooping salaries for the politicos at the Office of the President. And that is not all, the same PPP that complained about the merger of Political Party designations with State or National offices may have done so in form and substance although not in name!
Presidential advisors are earning nearly $5 thousand US dollars per month at the Office of the President that is nearly One Million Guyana dollars per month and it appears all of that tax-payers money being paid to All the President’s Men and Women is tax-free. Continue reading →
JULY 28, 2012 | BY KNEWS | – fuel skyrockets, cash runs out
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment yesterday met with representatives of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Forest Producers Association (FPA), to look at ways in which the Ministry can lend support to ensure that items of produce are taken into logging and mining camps.
Since the commencement of the protest by Lindeners, miners, forestry producers and workers within the bauxite industry have been suffering because transportation of fuel and food into the area and to the mining camps is almost at a standstill.
Alternative mechanisms to ensure that produce enter mining camps in a low cost way, delay the implementation of the new Export Lobby, the establishment of a hotline number so that forestry and mining operators can make contact and the development of alternative routes if there is a recurrence of the issue, are some of the mechanisms the Ministry is currently implementing. Read more…. [Linden protest bites deep]
Ahead of President Donald Ramotar’s planned visit, Lindeners and members of the security forces on Saturday remained in a standoff over the removal of blockages from the Kara Kara Bridge- the town’s major entrance and exit.
Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) was told that police and soldiers have so far failed in their hopes to get the residents to remove the blockage.
President Ramotar says his patience has grown thin and he has instructed police and soldiers to remove all obstructions on Saturday ahead of his scheduled mid-morning arrival. Continue reading →
Instead there has been talk by Government, of putting the increase ‘on hold’, a position which Lindeners have roundly condemned and rejected, as totally unacceptable.
Though disappointed that a few high profile diplomats that were slated to attend the meeting did not show, Lindeners defied heavy afternoon showers and showed up in their numbers. They were addressed by Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, and several other speakers.
Regional Chairman Solomon said, “This is not a Regional Chairman struggle; this has always been an inclusive struggle, that would have taken into consideration all the stakeholders, including our business community, our religious community, our pensioners and all the key players that are here to serve you.
“I am not here to say I am your leader; I am your biggest servant, and I will continue to be in service to you for as long as you want me to.” Continue reading →
Even as President Donald Ramotar prepares to go to Linden on Saturday to discuss residents’ concerns including the electricity hike and the killing of three persons during clashes with police last week, a tense calm prevailed in the south-eastern town.
Security sources confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com)that roads around the town are still blocked and they are hoping to persuade the leaders and to remove debris.
The Office of the President announced that “Furthermore, the President has instructed the Joint Services today to remove all barricades blocking the roads and bridges in order to allow unfettered ingress and egress through the Linden Township.”
The blockages have choked off key supplies to riverain and mining communities as well as the southern border town of Lethem where fuel for electricity generation is low. Scheduled power outages have been instituted to ration remaining fuel. Continue reading →
