| “No retreat, no surrender!”, was reiterated by speaker after speaker at yesterday’s meeting at Wismar to mark the 10th day of Linden’s struggle against increased electricity tariffs for the mining town. To date the proposed hike has not been withdrawn by Government, as residents have been demanding.Instead there has been talk by Government,Wholesale China Jerseys, of putting the increase ‘on hold’, a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.”Solomon said that he has sacrificed a lot. He said that he has not been sleeping for days, not seeing his home for the past ten days and not seeing his mother for the past couple of days. He had done all of that because it is his intention that ‘we should have a better Linden’, he said.“We are here this afternoon so that we can update you. We can update you as far as we have been struggling in the people’s struggle. This is our tenth day, and I want you to know that only three days ago sugar workers at Albion, would have finished their tenth day of struggle, and would have in the process lost between $10 million and $ 15million but you know what, those sugar workers have benefited based on their ability to struggle.“I am not comparing our struggle to the sugar workers, but I’m saying to you, that in remaining resolute,Throwback Jerseys, you will get what you want- you will get what you deserve; which is justice and better living for all of Linden and Region Ten.’“We have advanced our position and we had agreed that we will not go to the public with our discussions. Unfortunately, we noticed the government has difficulty keeping its honour. I have not breached that. You would have not heard from me what came out of those discussions; because those discussions are still in the discovery stages.“It is unfortunate however that we saw right after those discussions, which the Government would have released that we have come to an agreement. We have no agreement,Cheap Jerseys From China, absolutely no agreements.”Solomon noted that what they did have is a ‘draft understanding’ on those positions that were advanced. He expressed his disappointment that Government had asked him not to divulge their discussions to the media,Cheap Jerseys Online, but yet they themselves had done so.“They came to us on Monday, and said that they would reach with us on Tuesday, but that never happened. We told them that the principal issue of electricity comes off the table-We don’t want to hear a hold on increase on electricity tariffs,Jerseys From China, we said we have problems especially with that language because they could hold it from July 1, and implement it from August 1.Solomon pointed out that they told them that what they would encourage is a technical team to discuss the effects of implementation, of whatever comes out of the discussions.Solomon said that he pointed out to them that if they were so confident of the success of the mechanisms that would be put in place, “then let those things work and then we will pay.”He posited that the economic realities on the ground must reflect the ability for Lindeners to deal with even $1 increase in hardship.“Your quest for what we have been struggling for is to ensure we have a better Linden and Region Ten.”Solomon also proposed erecting a monument for the three slain Lindeners, who were killed by police on July 18, on the Watooka Farmers Tarmac, which to date is yet to serve its purpose.“The Tarmac will not be for Market but for our Martyrs!” he announced.Other speakers at the meeting included Dr. David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis,Wholesale Jerseys, Jonathan Adams, Pastors Selwyn Sills and Rennis Morian, Frederick Kissoon and Minerva Munroe.All the speakers exhorted Lindeners to keep fighting for justice, and their rights. The speeches were punctuated with popular culture ‘battle’ songs exhorting people to stand up for their rights.Hinds exhorted the youths to form themselves into youth clubs, and to take their education seriously. He also called on teachers to slash lesson fees by half, so that more young people could benefit.He also encouraged the opening up of literary centres, where young people could be educated.The religious community, meanwhile, planned a massive interfaith service for Sunday at 10am at the tarmac. |
