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PNCR calls for investigation into GPL operations
Even as the Guyana Power and Light, Inc. (GPL) signals great confidence in supplying consumers with an adequate supply of electricity for the Christmas season, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is calling for an investigation to be carried out into the operation of the company.
PNCR Executive Member, Keith Scott
At the party’s press conference on Thursday last, Executive Member Keith Scott pointed out that both the GPL and Government owe the people “a proper and credible explanation for the erratic and unreliable supply of electricity in Guyana”.
According to Scott, no official statement offered so far has logically explained the daily unscheduled blackouts occurring countrywide.
However, GPL, through its Chairman Winston Brassington, has expressed optimism that the power company will be able to avert a ‘dark Christmas’.
Scott, however, pointed out that in December of last year, GPL had predicted that Guyanese would have a black Christmas which led “President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his usual bravado-style, to make some grandiose announcements and promises.”
In this regard, he recounted that Guyanese were told that new generators were ordered and that they would have arrived by special shipment to ensure a bright Christmas.
The nation was also informed, Scott related, that GPL was being reorganized; staff would be reduced; greater efficiency would be achieved and that a new special maintenance schedule would be observed.
And according to Scott, it was expected that with increased generators, as announced by President Jagdeo, there should have been a greater opportunity to accelerate the maintenance programme.
“Less than a year later, this company is holding Guyanese to ransom again; businesses are seriously affected and productive activities are being stymied. Last week our health facilities were adversely affected. The Fort Wellington Hospital was in total blackout for the entire evening on Sunday October 19, 2008 and without a functioning generator. On the same day, the entire Corentyne Coast from No 51 Village to New Amsterdam, the entire West Coast Berbice and East Coast Demerara from Rosignol to Plaisance were without electricity.”
As such Scott noted that the PNCR has no choice but to question what logical explanation there is to rationalize the current state of affairs.
“Is it that so much unbudgeted money was spent on Carifesta X that none was available to purchase fuel? Is it that the promised maintenance never took place or that there was no money to purchase the spares? Is it that the GPL policy of indiscriminate dismissals of experienced employees has resulted in a shortage of relevant skills that are essential to the effective maintenance of the system? What are the real reasons for the non-completion of the new generator at Kingston as was finally admitted by GPL?” questioned Scott.
He disclosed that it was just a few months ago that the PNCR raised the issue of GPL in Parliament and had advocated that in the public interest there should be an investigation.
“Similar to their behaviour with respect to the torture motion, the PPP rejected the suggestion and commended GPL for the wonderful work that they were doing.”
As a result, the PNCR Executive noted that Guyanese are today reaping the results of that folly, adding that GPL and the government must therefore come clean and let the people of Guyana know the truth.
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