Solomon hopeful as Linden negotiations resume

-criticises Private Sector’s interventions

A five-hour meeting with President Donald Ramotar and his team to find ways to resolve the issues affecting Linden, last evening ended with some “hopefulness” according to Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon.

Solomon, when contacted by Stabroek News, declined to give more details, explaining that he was holding firm to an agreement not to release information while the talks are in progress. The talks resume tomorrow. Stabroek News was told, meanwhile, that the region is sticking to the demands made since the talks started, a few days after three Lindeners who were part of a July 18 protest against the raising of electricity tariffs were fatally shot and at least 20 more injured, after police opened fire on protestors.

President Ramotar’s team comprised Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, while AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, PNCR member Aubrey Norton, APNU MPs Vanessa Kissoon and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Solomon represented the opposition and the region. Although Office of the President did not release details from the discussions, President Ramotar yesterday publicly stated that he had asked the security forces again to clear the roadways blocked in Linden as part of continuing protests.

President Donald Ramotar and his team, including Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, meet with AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, PNCR member Aubrey Norton, region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon, and APNU MPs Vanessa Kissoon and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine at the Office of the President yesterday. (Government Information Agency photo)

Meantime, Solomon in a statement issued before yesterday’s meeting criticised the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC), saying it would be unacceptable for it to “parachute” into current negotiations without other actors such as the trade union movement and civil society also being involved. He also accused the Commission of having an objective that is “in conflict” with the Linden people.

Nevertheless, he said, the body can play a meaningful role in ensuring that those responsible for the shooting to death of three of the protestors are brought to justice.

Solomon’s statement was in response to comments made by the PSC that it was last week barred from a recent meeting held at the Office of the President (OP). The president and his team have been meeting with a team comprising of Sharma and members of the combined opposition to iron out the Linden situation. Last Tuesday, PSC members turned up to be a part of a scheduled meeting. However, objections were raised by Solomon and his team.

Solomon, in his statement, encouraged the PSC to work with the government, the Region 10 administration and other relevant civil society actors to find acceptable solutions though he said that the commission “cannot expect to parachute into negotiations that have been ongoing.” He emphasised that the PSC must recognise that it is not acceptable for it to join the negotiations without the involvement of the trade union movement and other civil society actors.

The chairman stressed that the PSC can play a meaningful role in helping “to bring those who committed these murders to justice,” while reiterating that PSC has a role in the “struggle for the withdrawal of the increase in electricity tariffs in Linden and for justice for the martyred three.”

“However, we need to sit and work out the mechanisms and to identify and involve all relevant civil society organisations,” he said, while adding that the PSC’s recent statements on the Linden issue are very disturbing. Solomon said that it was after being aware of the PSC’s presence for the meeting last Tuesday that the Region 10 delegation posited to the President’s delegation that if the PSC is included then other stakeholders such as the trades union and the religious community should also be involved. He said that prior to and during the current protest, regional stakeholders have been engaged in developing a social and economic programme and strategy. Solomon pointed out that it is the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that is ultimately accountable to the citizens of the region.

He had earlier noted that from the beginning of the process, the Region consulted and involved the religious community and other civil society organisations of Linden in the “struggle of the people of Linden in their quest to have the government withdraw the announced July 1st increase in electricity rates.”

On the issue of the establishment of a Technical Committee and the participants to be involved, this will be consistent with the region’s mandate to address the plight of the citizens, Solomon said. He added that the RDC is foremost beholden to the region’s citizens to represent and advance their interests based on their input.

Lindeners announced a five day protest against the tariff hike which started on July 18. By the end of the day three persons were dead and many more injured after police opened fire near the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, where residents were camped out. That incident sparked the continuation of the protest action that has resulted in all roads leading to the mining community being blocked with huge logs, old vehicles and other debris.

The president has since said that he will not be visiting to meet with residents unless the roadways are cleared. In the meantime the talks with the relevant stakeholders will continue in Georgetown. The increase in tariffs has also been put on hold.