The PNCR says it will continue to monitor what it refers to as "the government's commitment to the numerous promises" made to the people of Linden.
Moreover, the party pledged to continue working with the people of Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) "to realise the much needed and long overdue improvement in their standard of living," a press release from the PNCR stated. It also charged the PPP/Civic government with undermining that standard of living.
The collapse of the electricity and water supply systems in Linden sparked just over three weeks of protests, drawing an intervention from President Bharrat Jagdeo who visited the community thrice in two weeks to meet with representatives from various groups. Protestors had blockaded the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge cutting off traffic into and out of the town. They had also blocked a vital road in Linden leading to the interior, severely affecting operations of Omai Gold Mines Limited and a number of other companies with interior operations. That road was freed up after a promise by the government to release $50M to improve it.
Noting the peaceful end to the blockade of the bridge, the PNCR says it will "continue to support the legitimate use of mass action by ordinary Guyanese citizens to bring attention to, and get redress for the desperate social and economic conditions." The PNCR blamed the system of governance which it described as being "too often unresponsive, unprincipled and insensitive."
According to the party, the initiative by residents to voluntarily free up the bridge is clearly in keeping with their earlier commitment to do so after there were improvements in the water and electricity situation.
"This confirms that the protest action," the release said, "was merely an effort to ensure urgent and effective government intervention to address the plight of the community and not part of any malicious scheme to disrupt the flow of traffic across the bridge."
But the PNCR assured that it has not been insensitive to the hardship that many businesses unfortunately faced during the blockade of the bridge.
The party further said it is hopeful "that now that all concerned are aware of the severe problems faced by the people of Linden, such a situation would not repeat itself in the future, and the people of Linden can have their basic needs justifiably and promptly addressed."