More than a week after three men were killed after police opened fire on protesters in Linden, President Donald Ramotar has announced that he will today visit the mining town, where the army and police, acting on orders to clear barriers erected by residents, were facing resistance up to last evening.
At the Kara Kara Bridge there was a standoff between members of the Joint Services and residents who were maintaining a barrier that they said would not be disassembled until their demands are met. “No retreat, no surrender. We not moving from here,” a resident told the police Commander for Linden, Gavin Primo and a senior Guyana Defence Force officer who informed of their instructions to clear the bridge to allow Ramotar and a team into Linden to address their concerns.
Ramotar’s visit was announced by the Office of the President (OP) yesterday, hours after an anticipated trip to the town by representatives of the US, UK, Canadian and EU missions here to interface with residents did not materialise. Sources said yesterday that it was likely that the government would have had concerns over the visit by foreign diplomats to the town, which has closed itself off to traffic as it seeks to have several demands met by the government. No senior government official has visited the town since the deaths.
The protests by residents over an increase in electricity tariffs—now on hold—intensified after the deaths of Ron Somerset, Allan Lewis and Shemroy Bouyea on July 18. As the protest continues, the main roadways to access regions Seven, Eight, Nine and other parts of Region Ten have been blocked off, with all traffic halted, while demonstrations in solidarity with Lindeners have been held in Georgetown and other areas. The US Embassy in Guyana yesterday issued a warning to US nationals here to be careful in public owing to the continuing protests.
In a strongly-worded statement yesterday, OP said that Ramotar instructed the Joint Services yesterday “to remove all barricades blocking the roads and bridges in order to allow unfettered ingress and egress through the Linden Township.”
It said Ramotar informed Opposition Leader Granger and the Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon of his decision to visit and that Solomon “is expected to cooperate with the security forces” in removing all obstructions on the roads and bridges.
“The President emphasised that the Linden community as all Guyanese have the right to protest and represent their issues and concerns in a peaceful and law-abiding manner but his administration will not tolerate the blockage of roads and bridges leading into and through any community,” the statement said.
Over the last 10 days, it added, President Ramotar noted that the government has exercised great restraint and patience and was constructive in the many meetings with political party leaders in APNU and the AFC, the regional stakeholders and the Private Sector Commission, but “sadly” the blockage has continued.
Solomon yesterday said that the announcement of Ramotar’s visit was made before he was even informed. “…I give respect where it is due. He is the president and he is free to go anywhere in the country, as he so desires,” Solomon told a gathering that had assembled to meet the visiting diplomats at the Wismar end of the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, where the protestors were killed.
He, however, added that if or when he is called upon to attend any meeting during or after the president’s visit, he would remain resolute on the positions previously advanced at a meeting on Monday at the OP.
The demands by Lindeners include the total withdrawal of the plan for phased tariff hikes for power, compensation for the survivors of those killed and the injured in last Wednesday’s shooting, the laying of murder charges against the police allegedly involved in the deaths and improved economic and investment conditions for Region 10.
Residents last evening indicated their unwillingness to remove the Kara Kara Bridge, until they hear positive responses to their demands. “…We not giving up this bridge until we hear that the positions are given positive responses, no retreat, no surrender,” said one of them. “All the time he wasn’t coming, now because the Western missions want to come he bowing not to look bad… if he is for the people, he is going to fly and come to us, we ain’t moving. They got Sharma under pressure, but they ain’t know that is not Sharma controlling things here. This is our demand and we not moving.”
‘Diplomatic interest’
Although Solomon yesterday said the diplomats’ visit was reorganised due to security concerns, the foreign missions made no such indication but signalled that representatives are still intent on visiting, while hoping that all sides work towards a compromise.
“…We wish to advise that some members of the diplomatic community have expressed an interest in visiting Linden as they continue to assess the security, economic and political situation. A date and time for a visit has not yet been confirmed,” the US Embassy said in a statement issued yesterday.
“The diplomatic representatives are looking for an opportunity to visit in the near future, as they encourage all sides to come together to address concerns in a spirit of compromise to restore normalcy in the town of Linden,” it added.
Stabroek News was told that the visit by the diplomats was not supposed to have been publicly announced as was done by Solomon on Thursday. Further, observers have pointed out that a visit by the diplomats would have put the Ramotar administration in an awkward position, since it has yet to send any high-ranking official to Linden since the deaths of the three protestors.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Guyana yesterday warned US citizens to be careful in public owing to the “violent protests” in Linden and ongoing protests in Georgetown.
An “emergency message” posted on US Embassy Guyana Public Affairs Facebook page warned US citizens in Guyana to “limit” their movement in and around Georgetown and Linden and to avoid unnecessary travel throughout the country. “Because of the continuing possibility of violence, the Embassy has prohibited US government employees from official and non-official travel to Linden and on the Linden highway,” it added, while advising citizens to exercise caution throughout the country.
The message also noted that the protests in Linden have resulted in property damage and loss of life. It warned, “Protests in Georgetown and Linden are ongoing and may spread to other locations.”
US citizens were also advised to avoid large public gatherings, be aware of traffic delays and increased pedestrian presence in the potential problem areas.
“Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable. You should avoid them if at all possible. Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what the local news media has to say,” it said.
Investors
Hundreds gathered at Wismar in anticipation of a 10am meeting with diplomats yesterday and they waited patiently for several hours until a meeting was started at approximately 4pm, when Solomon and others addressed them.
Prior to learning about Ramotar’s visit, Solomon accused the president of not keeping his end of an understanding that they would not release certain information to the public from their meeting on Monday until definitive positions were arrived at. “I was accused by sections of the media of being tight-lipped on issues but this is because I am a man to my word,” he explained.
Solomon, however, hinted to residents the willingness of several investors to create economic activities for more than 10,000 residents in the areas of Agriculture, Information Technology and Mining, in the town. “These investors don’t need a single cent from this government. All they need is concessions. That’s all they need and tomorrow (today) you will hear about this,” he added.
During his meeting with Ramotar, Solomon said that there were talks on investments into micro-projects but he had indicated that the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) was one such project that had failed. “We are weary of micro-credit programmes. LEAP is a perfect example. Let those things work, then we will pay,” he declared.
Solomon also announced that at the next sitting of the Regional Democratic Council, a motion will be moved that finances be made available through the Commemoration Committee for the construction of a “July 18, 2012 Martyrs Monument” to be erected at the Wismar end of the bridge. “I am looking at that same tarmac,” he said, indicating the one intended for a market place for West Watooka farmers that was constructed more than a year and was never put to use.
He added that the three slain protestors will be buried in a shrine as they must be remembered throughout the lifetime of the town.
The men’s families were also urged during yesterday’s gathering against taking small trinkets from government bodies, since funds were committed by civilians to take care of the funeral expenses. “…It is also one of the positions advanced to the presidential team that the families be properly compensated,” Solomon noted.
Residents were also told of a march and vigil held in Buxton in solidarity with Linden. “When people there hear the true story, there were literal tears falling,” said Solomon, who also informed of a truck load of food sent to Linden from Buxton. He said that residents of Buxton are prepared to march to Georgetown to protest the cause of their brothers and sisters in Linden.
