APNU Linden “shut things down” call intended to create instability – govt official
The government on Monday accused the main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) of “deliberately pushing for instability” after the opposition party threatened to “shut things down” in Linden and cut off access to the mineral-rich interior, if the government does not quash its plan to increase the Linden electricity tariff from July 1.
APNU’s Aubrey Norton and Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon told a public meeting in Wismar, Linden Saturday that residents cannot allow the government to move forward with the plan since the region cannot afford to pay more for electricity.
“We have to be prepared to do what is required to achieve our objective. We stand at the gateway to the interior. I say no more…we must mobilize our children, we must mobilize the youth, we must mobilize ourselves and we must be ready to do what we require to stop this government from bringing repression to the people of Linden”Norton told Lindeners.
Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon meanwhile said that Lindeners have been able to mobile themselves and “we can shut things down so I am saying to you that our actions are not many. Our action remains one- our act is that we are not going to pay a single cent increase”.
Responding to these calls, a senior government official said Monday that this call by APNU is “irresponsible,reckless and without merit”.
The official who asked not to be named since his comments were not officially from the government PR, said that the call is another demonstration that APNU is ” the same old PNC in disguise” and accused the main opposition of “creating instability”.
” No responsible political party, or any grouping for that matter will not go to its supporters and publicly tell them to create instability, tell them to cut off access to any area, that is being irresponsible and reckless” the official said.
The same official is of the view that “better sense will prevail”.
” I believe and trust the people of Linden, I know better sense will prevail and Lindens will reject this call by the APNU, the people know better” the official said.
The official also dismissed claims that the recent demonstration by the police with the water cannon was in preparations for possible street protest in Linden over the tariff hike.
The opposition is set to move a motion in parliament soon to block the government’s plan to increase the Linden electricity tariff.