Protestors block roads in Linden
-stop ferry service
-Power plant catches alight
Stabroek News
April 6, 2003
Protestors in Linden tried to blockade the town yesterday setting barricades on major roadways and shutting down ferries. In the midst of the mayhem, the only working generator of the Linden Power Company caught alight. Up to press time the town was in total darkness.
Yesterday morning Stabroek News arrived at the bridge which links Mackenzie and Wismar, where an all night vigil was being held to find hundreds had assembled to continue the demonstration.
Around 10:00 am they marched from the bridge on the Wismar end down to Burnham drive chanting for proper water supplies, the end to prolonged power cuts and extra pay for teachers. As they passed the Wismar market square they appealed to stallholders to close and join the protest. Without any resistance, the stallholders complied. As the march moved further down Burnham drive all the ferry services were ordered to close off their services. They all complied with the exception of the De Jonge ferry service. A group of the protesters flooded the landing hurrying the passengers out of the boat, then dismantled the boat engine and emptied the fuel tank into the river. In an attempt to defend his boat the captain drew a cutlass on those who entered the boat but was overpowered and beaten. Some commuters took to small boats which became overcrowded, one of which capsized. It is not clear at this point whether all were rescued.
Many persons who were trapped on both sides of the river had to walk several miles to get to and from their homes. Having closed off the ferries the protesters fetched large stones, posts and other materials and blocked all the main roads into Wismar. Empty stalls were even used to block the way. As a result all vehicles had to park and large groups of persons could be seen walking, some fetching groceries on their heads. Some even ran away fearful that the protesters might attack them.
After the Wismar shore was closed off the protestors marched across to the Mackenzie end. By the time they arrived most of the business places had closed up shop but there were a few who refused.
The crowd at this point had grown to well over one thousand and it moved to the Kara Kara bridge. On the way they took down the railway line barricades and piled large planks across the ‘washer pond’ road and Sir David Rose avenue. En route to the Kara Kara bridge, a large group converged on the Rose Gas Station demanding soft drinks and water. However, those in charge managed to drive the group out of the gas station without any damage incurred. But some people upturned the Mayor and Town Council’s checkpoint station on Sir David Rose avenue.
On arrival at the Kara Kara bridge, the crowd used a long trailer that they had removed from the Linmine canine department, to block the bridge along with large stones and over fifty tyres which were transported on the trailer. The tyres were taken from several tyre shops along the way. That blockage put a stop to all vehicles coming into and leaving Linden and out of Amelia’s Ward. However, a few drivers who were familiar with the back road from Amelia’s Ward to Kara Kara found a way out. The protesters subsequently blocked that passage. Large piles of scrap iron pipes, tyres and dried wood were used. They then set the bridge alight. This newspaper learnt that when the protestors had left the site a grader was used to clear a passageway allowing some traffic to come in and out of the area.
From Kara Kara the protesters marched through Speightland and passed the Linden Power Company without stopping. They claimed that they did not want to disturb the workers in their effort to restore some power to the community.
Determined to ensure that all the main streets at Mackenzie were blocked and businesses closed off they marched through central Mackenzie then headed back to the main bridge which they said was their headquarters. Many of the protesters said that they had achieved their objectives of completely shutting off the town. Like those at Wismar, persons were seen fetching heavy loads on their head all the way to Amelia’s Ward, Kara Kara and other areas of Mackenzie.
When Stabroek News spoke with several of those who were inconvenienced by the action, they said they supported it since it represented the views of all the residents of Linden. But there were those who believed that it was unnecessary and would not yield any good results.
Stabroek News understands that further frustration was caused when the lone diesel engine that was in operation at the diesel plant developed some problems sending the entire town into darkness once again. “All we see is de diesel plant in thick black smoke and a set a noise like something blow up - is back to square one da was de limit.” One of the protesters said. They said that the fire engine had put out a fire in the diesel plant which is situated near the bridge where the protesters had their headquarters.
Up to press time the entire town was in darkness.
Since Thursday Linmine’s bauxite plant had been without any power. In an interview with Stabroek News earlier in the week the Chief Executive Officer of Linmine had said that the company was suffering great losses. He said that for some weeks they had been delaying three customers, and they had had to pay demurrage for a two-day delay of a ship which they had on dock.
This newspaper was made to understand that the protest would continue until the demands of the protesters were met.
