A plan by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to integrate Linden into the national electricity grid has been rejected by APNU’s Region 10 parliamentary representative, Sharma Solomon.

GPL announced last week that Linden would be fully integrated into the national electricity grid by 2029, in keeping with the company’s 2026–2030 Development and Expansion Plan.

But Solomon said such a move could negatively affect Linden, particularly in relation to electricity costs and the reliability of the power supply.

“Why would we want to be on a GPL arrangement like Georgetown and the rest of the country with uncertainty of power generation, power distribution and cost of power. We said this to Georgetown and the rest of the country when we signed the 21st of August agreement, that a technical committee in every region would help a better power generating plan for Guyana and for GPL, so that we could appreciate the integrating of different regions and communities on the GPL supply system, that was not done,” Solomon said.

Linden residents benefit from lower electricity costs as the town purchases its electricity from the bauxite company through two utility companies.

Electricity in the mining town was historically managed by the bauxite companies for years before transitioning to arrangements involving the state.

“So, we have every right to be concerned in Linden after we would have fought for and historically entitled to, and also where there is mismanagement of the government, demonstrated that we deserve to have much concerned about GPL’s power generating system, “Solomon stated.

Meanwhile, PNC Reform Leader Aubrey Norton also rejected the move, saying that if the government intends to integrate Linden into the national grid, it must take the town’s historical circumstances into consideration.

He accused the current government of destroying Linden’s power-generation capacity.

Norton also argued that the government’s plan to add additional megawatts of generating capacity along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway would not directly benefit Linden residents, but would instead benefit communities along the highway.

He said there is no objection to residents along the highway receiving electricity, but argued that Linden’s larger population should have made the town a priority.

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