The Government of Guyana has once again shut down the toll collection for commercial vehicles entering the town of Linden.
Minister of Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand has issued a letter to the Linden Town Clerk, ordering the Linden Mayor and Town Council to immediately cease the imposition and collection of tolls or other charges at the Kara Kara Public Road toll station.
In the letter addressed to Linden Town Clerk, Lennox Gasper, and copied to the Mayor of Linden, Dominique Blair, Minister Manickchand said the Ministry has not authorized the imposition or collection of any toll/charges at Kara Kara Public Road or anywhere else in Linden.
She stated that no by-law or order had been issued and published by the Minister with responsibility for Local Government authorizing such charges.
According to the letter, any toll or charge imposed and collected by the Linden Mayor and Town Council, either directly or through servants or agents, is “null, void and unlawful.”
The Council has therefore been instructed to cease and desist immediately from imposing or collecting any tolls or charges at Kara Kara Public Road.
The Ministry warned that failure to comply could result in the institution of legal proceedings against the Council and/or individuals responsible for the alleged unlawful imposition and collection of the tolls.
The People’s Progressive Party Civic Government had previously blocked the collection of tolls in Linden for commercial vehicles back in 2013. However, when the Government changed in 2015, the APNU+AFC Government allowed the reintroduction of the toll system and it has remained in place up until now.
The toll system allowed the collection of additional revenue for the Linden Mayor and Town Council, which is already cash strapped.
Just last week, the Linden Mayor complained about the Government removing the tolls for the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, and not providing the Council with any additional subvention to fill the gap.
The removal of the Kara Kara toll station will see the Town Council losing millions in monthly revenue.
News Source understands that the decision was a cabinet decision, and was made after some business persons complained about having to pay the toll to move their commercial trucks through the mining community.
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