Just after 07:00 hrs yesterday, members of the Guyana Police Force in a joint operation with security personnel and workers from the Linden Mayor and Town Council, and the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) who provided back up equipment, cleared the bridge of blockades placed by protesters and a truck that had been disabled there.

The bridge was under siege as scores of protesters camped out on it promising not to move until stable electricity supply was restored to the Mackenzie and Wismar shores of the town which is divided by the Demerara River.

The protests intensified after the power generating system run by the privately owned Linden Power Company (LPC) collapsed on March 30.

At one point, streets in Linden and the highway leading into the town were blocked to traffic but protesters remained on the bridge up to Saturday.

The bridge blockade began to take shape when protesters punctured the tyres of a Town Council truck on the centre span of the overpass.

The truck was at the time taking water to the One Mile Health Centre.

On Friday night, churches in Linden held a prayer meeting at the Mackenzie Sports Club before participants moved on foot in lines of threes to the Mackenzie/Wismar bridge where hundreds witnessed a meeting between church leaders and protesters still camping out there.

A church group kept vigil and pleaded with the remaining protesters to end the closure of the bridge.

Officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) also visited Linden Saturday but were prevented from taking chemicals to the water treatment plants by members of the protest group who maintained the blockade despite the improvement in electricity and water supply in the town.

Over the weekend two of the three mobile generating sets President Bharrat Jadgeo had instructed be dispatched from the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), were up and running and a turbo charger for the LPC diesel set was made available through government funding and there was a marked improvement of power in Linden.

As the situation improved, residents made their voices heard as they approached the remaining protesters on the bridge and made it clear that it was time for them to move since the point had been made and the Government had started the process to alleviate the situation.

They also noted that the Wisrock water treatment plant was in need of chemicals and GWI personnel were not allowed to transport chemicals to the plant.

Among those who witnessed the bridge clearing operation yesterday morning were Mayor of Linden, Mr. Stan Smith and LINMINE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Horace James.

President Jagdeo, who has visited the town twice, is due back in Linden this week for an on the spot update.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds reported yesterday that after repairs and maintenance work and with the bridge cleared, the river water pumping station at the middle of the bridge was back in operation, pumping water to the water treatment plant at the Mackenzie end of the bridge and cooling water for the diesel power station.

He said electricity was being generated by the three 1.5MW Caterpillar mobile units from GPL at the steam power plant, and one 2.5MW GM diesel unit at the diesel power station.

All sections of the community and all water treatment plants were being powered, he reported.

However, the Prime Minister noted that the demand for electricity during the evening peak period may exceed the available power so some areas may have to be rotated out of service.

As such he is urging residents to use power sparingly through the 18:00-22:00 hrs peak period.

He pointed out too that since the water treatment plant at the bridge is being fed again, Old Mackenzie, Watooka, Noitgedacht, Fairs Rust and Richmond Hill would be receiving water again.

With the bridge now cleared GWI would be moving essential appliances to the plants on the Wismar side of the river in a bid to improve the quality of water being supplied, Mr. Hinds said

Touching on the planned projections for continuing the improvement of power supply, he said two portable Caterpillar units are expected to arrive from Georgetown by tomorrow or Wednesday.

These are to be installed in the bauxite plant and would be in service by Friday to enable a limited return of the operations of the bauxite plant.

The Prime Minister added that the power from these units can be diverted to the community in cases of failure of the units now in service.

The turbocharger ordered for the second 2.5MW unit at the diesel power station is expected to arrive in Guyana on April 29 and the second 2.5MW unit is expected to be in service by May 1, while the two motors from the boiler feed water pumps at the steam power station have been crated to be shipped to Trinidad today for realigning and rebalancing, the Prime Minister said.

The motors are expected back at the steam power station in about two weeks and the 7.5MW steam plant is expected to be in service by May 6, he said.

However, he said there is need to limit damage and regain lost ground particularly with respect to Linden being a gateway to the interior and the re-development of bauxite operations.

Commenting on the dust nuisance to residents from the unsurfaced entry/exit roads on the Wismar side, Mr. Hinds noted that meetings were held among the stakeholders, including residents, to relieve and remedy the situation.

Among the initiatives instituted are:
i. Water spraying of the unsurfaced roads is in progress and speed bumps are in place. Speed signs have been prepared and will be installed in a day or two, requiring that all vehicles not exceed 20 mph, (a low speed is the most effective measure to limit the generation of dust.)

ii. Led by the provision of $50M by President Jagdeo, various stakeholders have been meeting to arrange for the surfacing of some roads. Surveys have begun and July 31 is the target for completion of this project. A number of companies that use the road have given significant commitments in kind for this job, which in the normal way would cost in excess of $300M.

Prime Minister Hinds highlighted the need for all parties involved to work collaboratively at repairing the damage and regaining lost ground particularly with respect to Linden becoming the gateway to Guyana's interior.

Among the places that are accessed through Linden are Ituni, Kwakwani, Aroaima, Mabura, Mahdia, Iwokrama, Rupununi, Lethem, Brazil, Bartica (for vehicles) and onwards between the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers.

He urged all parties to work to save the plans for the redevelopment of the bauxite operations in Linden.

The electricity supply to residents of the mining town broke down on Sunday March 30, following the failure of the LPC steam plant and two diesel sets.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the Government has been purchasing power from that company and selling it to Lindeners at the traditional subsidised rate.

The tariff that Lindeners pay is very minimal and the Government's monthly subsidy is in the order of $80M, it said.

Since the situation evolved, the Government on April 5, loaned two 1.25 MW portable units to the LPC from GPL.

The Prime Minister and a team of Government officials visited the region on April 10.

The President also visited on April 11 and returned on April 15.

The President ordered that the power generating set from Aroaima be relocated to Ituni and that a third generating unit from GPL's Garden of Eden Power station be sent to Linden.

He also instructed that two 1.25 generating units be leased from MACORP at the cost of $10M monthly.

The Guyana Fire Service and the Regional Office distributed water to different areas.

A newly acquired stand by generator from Georgetown was released to Lindeners for improved water supply also.

Meanwhile, during meetings with residents, the President promised business people to explore the possibility of having loan payments rescheduled through the assistance of the Ministry of Finance.