THE Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) says it will not be bullied by anyone and will complete its public consultations on a proposed electricity rate increase, as it is required to do under the Constitution.

The commission gave this assurance after one of those consultations at Centre Pointe Mall, Chaguanas, on Wednesday, had to be aborted because of what the RIC described as the unruly behaviours of some of the attendees.

While the RIC gave the assurance, the Government and Opposition blamed each other for the events which transpired in Chaguanas that forced the RIC to prematurely end its consultation.

In a statement on Thursday, the RIC said Wednesday’s consultation began at the advertised time of 5 pm.

“As is the norm, the RIC intended to continue the sessions beyond the advertised two-hour time period, to accommodate all persons wishing to participate.”

The commission regretted that the meeting had to be abruptly ended at approximately 7.15 pm, when there were still members of the audience waiting in line to speak.

“The RIC’s decision to end the session was prompted by the behaviour of some attendees who were disrupting the proceedings and confronting persons at the head table.”

The commission identified its chairman Dawn Callender and executive director Glenn Khan as two of the people at the table who were confronted by unruly attendees.

The RIC said, “This behaviour began when a member of the audience interrupted the presentations, by using a device in his possession to play music loudly.”

The commission said this behaviour continued with threats from other people to light flammable liquids in the auditorium, and “further escalated to the dragging of a replica coffin throughout the venue.”

The coffin bore the words, “RIP RIC.”

RIC: Officials felt threatened

Under the circumstances, the statement said, Callender had no choice to end the meeting because she was afraid for the safety of RIC officials and everyone else in the auditorium.

The commission said Callender and other RIC officials had to be escorted out of the auditorium by police officers.

“The RIC stands firm in its belief in democracy and in having a fair, equitable and transparent consultation process.

“However, the commission will neither be intimidated nor will it allow these sessions to descend into disorder, chaos and unsafe conditions.”

The commission said it supported all citizens’ rights to share their views, but added that it “strongly condemns the disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behaviour exhibited by the persons attending the consultation and the unprofessional behaviour of elected officials in attendance.”

The UNC’s Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh, Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally, Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes and San Juan/Barataria MP Saddam Hosein were at Wednesday’s consultation. In addition, UNC PRO Kirk Meighoo, UNC activist and attorney Kiel Taklalsingh and other UNC activists were in attendance.

The RIC said, “When persons behave in a disruptive m