Miners divided on Linden protest

–women’s group donates food hampers

Some miners are in support of the people of Linden as they protest against a government- imposed hike in electricity tariffs, though they are suffering as a result of the road blockages.
At the 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Friday at Regency Suite Hotel, Georgetown, several miners voiced their support to the community of Linden.

But while some have shown support to the people of the mining town, others have raised significant concerns about the loss of revenue as a result of the road blockages.

The community of Linden has been shut down since July 17 as residents protest the hike in electricity rates. Since then, three persons have been killed, with 18 others injured.
One miner said, “When we as miners are affected, the whole economy would be affected.” The miner noted that while the Linden shut down is affecting the free transport of goods and resources to the mining districts, it is for a “good cause”.
He said, “We are affected, we need to stand up with the people of Linden… this is not an issue for the community of Linden alone, we are all going to be affected, it is national.” In response to the concerns aired by some miners who are unable to enter their mining camps via roads, GGDM President Patrick Harding said discussions were had with members of the police force as well as the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. While no commitment has been made, stakeholders have indicated that they are working to have the situation at Region 10 resolved.
“We are hoping that by this weekend, the situation could be eased,” Harding said.
Winston Smith, a miner representing the people of Linden apologised for the inconvenience caused, mainly to miners, urging that they (miners) “understand the plight of the people in our community”.
Amidst standing ovation, Smith called on fellow miners to support the mining town, noting that they are not protesting in vain. He said the people of Linden are standing up for what they believed in, and urged that solidarity be shown with the residents of that community.
Meanwhile, in an effort to bring relief to residents in the mining town of Linden, who has since July 18 managed to completely shut the town down over the government’s increase in electricity tariffs, Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) President Simona Broomes and team donated over 50 food hampers to affected residents.
The team arrived with three cars loaded with food items and vegetables, including rice, milk, sugar, flour, oil, onion, butter and corn, which were distributed to members of the oganisation residing in Linden, at Amelia” s Ward and at the Kara Kara Bridge, where demonstrators who were protesting the electricity tariff hike had set up camps over the past few days.
Broomes noted that this was just the organisation’s way of looking out for humanity.
“In my organisation, we talk about commitment and we are committed to our members in spite of their situation, and we have women here in Linden that are very committed to the organisation and as president, I bare them in my heart every day. In fact, I pray to God that he keeps them safe, knowing that they are out here many days and with the problems that they are faced with every day, I know that things like food is necessary,” she indicated.
A five-day shut down was planned from July 18, however protestors managed to block the Mackenzie-Wismar and Kara Kara Bridge and several roads within the community over the past 12 days, despite the presence of Joint Services ranks who made several failed attempts to have them cleared. Linden is one of the main gateways to interior locations, and ever since the shutdown commenced, roads within the community remained blocked by irate protestors.
Broomes indicated that while this is not the organisation’s first visit since the unrest commenced, it is one of the most tangible donations made. “Last week we sent in some money to the ladies here to cook and feed over 300 persons on the road here. So this is not the first venture, but my first visit here as president since the protests started. I wanted to see them and see what the conditions are like, and also hear what their conditions are like,” she said.
The donations were made at the same time when Joint Services ranks were clearing the Kara Kara Bridge of large logs and debris that were placed by protestors.