Minister Jordan calls for compensation to linden martyrs to be revisited
DPI, Guyana, Friday, December 7, 2018
Minister of Finance today told the National Assembly it is his desire to revisit the matter of compensation given to members of the Linden community, for injuries suffered during the protest against the former PPP/C’s government attempts to increase electricity rates in the mining town.
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan.
The Finance Minister was at the time responding to “misinformation” peddled by the opposition that Coalition government had budgeted $100Million for the erection of a monument in the mining town in remembrance of the Linden Martyrs, when in fact the amount budgeted is $5Million.
“I am asking my section to revisit the compensation given … the total compensation given to those people was less than the compensation given to one commissioner. Shame!” Jordan underscored.
THE 2019 Budget has made provisions for the funding of a monument in honour of the three Linden martyrs, Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis who were gunned down during a bloody and fiery protest on July 18, 2012.
The announcement was made by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan during the budget presentation on Monday and follows the repeated call of relatives, friends and residents at large for the building of a monument in the men’s honour.
It’s also a nod to the holding of a memorial service on July 18 every year since the incident on the very spot on which they were killed.
Kidackie Amsterdam.
Images: Keno George.