Narrow 'electricity' politicking
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
May 20, 2007
OPPOSITION Leader Robert Corbin is understandably concerned to maintain unity within the ranks of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) at a time when it is now publicly known that there are longstanding colleagues of the party seriously pursuing plans for an eventual challenge to his leadership.
This is nothing unusual or unprecedented in democratic multi-party politics in our region and internationally. It is how such challenges manifest themselves in the cut and thrust of campaigning that would make the fundamental difference for the final outcome and future of the survivor and his loser(s).
What, from a national perspective, is quite important at this time is that the PNCR manages its internal leadership differences without opportunistically resorting to the politics of distortions and misrepresentations that could prove harmful to Guyana's national interest.
A very relevant case is the position which has been adopted by the PNCR leader in relation to increased electricity rates in the Linden community and attempts to unfairly, if not exactly mischievously involve, in the process, the coming of BOSAI, the Chinese investment corporation
The PNCR's seeming anxiety to now also engage in stirring up unnecessary controversy over plans for new local government elections -- following just-concluded talks between its leader and President Bharrat Jagdeo -- may be yet another straw in the political wind for what some consider "militant" leadership. More of this another time.
For now, it would be public knowledge that our bauxite industry has been suffering from recurring economic problems since the 1970s. It is also well known that the need to reduce the burden of state-subsidised electricity consumption in Linden has had to be faced by successive administrations from the 1980s.
Currently, and consistent with a commitment by the government in the interest of the welfare of residents of Linden, subsidies are being maintained at approximately 50 to 90 per cent of prevailing economic costs. This is nothing to sneeze at but to commend.
Rather than distorting the reality, therefore, and to associate existing electricity tariffs with the coming of BOSAI, the PNCR has the social responsibility to help in offering an objective assessment of the situation -- as Prime Minister Samuel Hinds did last week.
A government statement, released to the media, quoted Prime Minister Hinds as expressing "regrets" for the stand taken by Mr. Corbin in linking the presence of BOSAI with the price increase for electricity in Linden.
This linkage is false, as the PNCR should be aware that prior to the involvement of BOSAI, CAMBIOR/IAMGOLD had advised about their inability to sustain the burden of "continuing payments in order to meet the losses which OBMI was incurring…
Further, that without a reasonable expectation of concluding the sale of their assets to BOSAI, then OBMI might have had to close operations in December 2004".
Cheap, partisan politics, as in the case of BOSAI and electricity rates at Linden must be resisted in the national interest.
The people of Linden should not be exploited as political fodder for short-term political gains by ANY party honestly committed to long-term and peaceful national development.