Prime Minister Sam Hinds was at his desk yesterday and said he was trying to be the best Prime Minister Guyana ever had. He refused to comment on the accuracy of reports which swept the city on Monday that he had tendered his resignation from the number two position in the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.

"You could say that you found me at my desk working hard to be the best Prime Minister I could be and the best Guyana ever had," the PM told Stabroek News when contacted yesterday.

Reports of his resignation spread like wildfire during the day, fuelled by his absence from the launching of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme at Linden yesterday as well as from his office. The Prime Minister has responsibility for the bauxite industry and has an affinity for the Linden community in which he lived and worked before his appointment as Prime Minister in 1992. A difference of opinion on recent Guyana Power and Light (GPL) tariff increases between himself and President Jagdeo was also seen as fuelling the reports.

Stabroek News confirmed that Hinds was at home on Monday but not taking any calls. He also missed the dinner on Saturday evening hosted by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to mark the Chinese New Year. Stabroek News learnt that he had indicated to the embassy earlier in the day that he would be unable to attend as he would have been out of town.

An Office of the President spokesman continued to deny reports yesterday that the Prime Minister had tendered his resignation. He stuck to the statement given to this newspaper on Monday that it was just another rumour. The spokesman said that mischief-makers were trying to read more into the difference of opinion on the proposed rate increase by GPL.

The spokesman conceded that there was a difference of opinion over the aspect of the rate increase announced by GPL, but no difference on the overall objective of getting a reliable supply of electricity for the Guyanese people.