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| COMMENDATIONS must go to the two sides that have just concluded agreement on the Linden Economic Deal, including a review of the Linden power tariff issue that had been the principal cause of the protest and other unfortunate acts that followed in the mining town. One will know that achieving such landmarks, given the very tense and uncertain backdrop, is often challenging for those, whose task it is to achieve consensus on critical issues such as those that formed the menu of complaints from the mining town. But the fact that agreement has been reached, signalled that the will to succeed was there, and that they all rose to the occasion. For the nation in general, this means a deep relief from the tensions that had started to rise, especially with the security concerns foremost. This conclusion will signal for the commercial and business sector, also, a return to normalcy, with those holdings in the interior, being able to produce without the many uncertainties that had been threatening their productive capacities. But, importantly for the town and its residents, it is time to start the rebuilding process of returning the community to a semblance of social tranquility that will support the implementation of the many economic measures that will accrue to the town’s benefit. Make no mistake about it – Linden must be allowed to move forward unhindered, without its recovery being undermined by the very elements, whose anti-community actions have caused great discomfort and dislocation. For the parliamentary opposition, good sense and patriotism must prevail. One cannot speak of developing one’s country, and in the same breath support acts that will lend towards destabilising those efforts. And this is mentioned in the wake of reports that certain known opposition personalities are said to be urging certain communities in the eastern corridor to indulge in actions that are definitely inimical to the general peace and stability that our nation needs for its continuing socio-economic transformation. The leaders of these parties must understand that they have a responsibility to themselves, first as leaders to set proper and appropriate leadership examples; second, to their constituents to offer good guidance; third, to the nation in general, to act in the national interest. Hence, it is important that these leaders begin to rein in those radical voices, whose advice, if heeded, can only result in great harm to the nation’s future progress. |
Written by DEAN CLEMENT
