Despite protests and representations against an increase in electricity charges for Lindeners the PPP/C administration is bent on implementing an increase from July 1st. While it is fair to ask people to pay for that which they consume they can only do so if they afford it.
There is almost an 80% poverty level in Linden with only 375 people who hold permanent jobs. The average family income is less than $ 25,000/month. One elder from Linden said “The most insidious, all pervading and debilitating problem in Linden is its grinding poverty”. The government must consider the ability of the residents of Linden to pay for electricity. While they pressure Lindeners to pay increased rates, the government has failed to address the astronomically high levels of unemployment in that community.
Electricity is not a luxury in this 21st century and in Guyana where we are blessed with so many natural resources from which we can generate electricity cheaply every Guyanese home should afford this amenity. Unfortunately this is not the case. Some in desperation are forced to improvise ways to steal it and so often we hear of an electrocution or a home lost in fire. The picture is that of our people caught up in a vicious cycle of destruction which they do not deserve or for which they are not responsible.
Therefore, the AFC recognizes that we need to implement short, medium and long range plans which will create conditions for attracting investors in depressed areas such as Linden. This in turn will create jobs and ensure that people have the purchasing power to purchase all of their necessities, electricity included. Our heart goes out to the people of Linden at this critical time and the AFC will continue to press for their betterment.
The government bemoans the removal of budgetary allocations to NCN and a few weeks after the subsidy was cut we hear of massive financial irregularities of that state run institution. The AFC highlighted what is happening with the NICIL funds that rightfully belong to the people of this country. Why some of that money, that we now hear has already been spent, was not spent to create jobs in Linden? Why was some of the NICIL funds not spent to set up cottage industries so that the people of Linden could earn a living.
Successive governments have failed the people of Linden. It is time for a Region Ten Development Strategy to be worked out with the people of the Region and all key stakeholders including the donor community, to address in a comprehensive manner, job creation, poverty eradication and the social ills that affect the Region. [END]
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