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GPL fires 120 workers for illegal activities
By Leonard Gildarie
More than 120 persons have been fired by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) during the past two years as the company cracks down on dishonest employees.
According to senior officials of the Loss Prevention Unit of GPL, more than half of the persons were contract workers.
An individual attempting to make an illegal connection.
Some 75 of them would have been involved in illegal activities ranging from illegal connections to meter tampering. They were sent home for demanding money and for turning a blind eye to illegal connections.
The remainder who were fired were full-time employees. The official explained that while in many cases there will be complaints against employees and contractors, it is only when consumers file official reports and statements are given that GPL can actually move.
“We keep hearing things all the time, but we have to see some proof and we are asking people who know to come forward.”
So far a number of employees and contractors are before the courts for illegal activities.
The problem of dishonest technicians is nothing new for GPL since it is known that some consumers would offer huge sums to set up illegal connections.
The company has been facing an uphill task of looking at ways to reduce its expenditure in light of rising costs of parts and fuel. Non-technical losses due to electricity stealing and dishonest employees cost the company a lot.
So far, GPL has stepped up its campaign to remove illegal connections, targeting such areas as Sophia, West Ruimveldt and Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
It was only on Friday that two ex-GPL employees appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate, Melissa Robertson, charged with demanding money with menace.
It is alleged that on September 23, last, at Craig, East Bank Demerara, Solomon Jones and Jermaine James demanded $60,000 from one Shionjali Sheumber.
The prosecutor told the court that the two men had been relieved of their duties two weeks prior to the September 23 incident.
Sheumber told the court that on the said day, the two men, who both worked in the Disconnection Department at GPL, and were dressed in GPL uniforms, accused her of stealing electricity and told her that they would take away her meter if she did not pay them $60,000.
Fearing that she would lose her meter, Sheumber paid the men the amount they demanded, she then made a report to the police.
Counsel representing the two men informed the court that the virtual complainant had decided not proceed with the matter, provided that she got her money back.
Jones and James were able to pay Sheumber the full amount, and were also made to pay cost to the court by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson (ag), for wasting the court’s time.
According to one official yesterday, the problem as highlighted in Friday’s court case is only the tip of the iceberg but the company stands ready to punish employees and contractors found to be involved in activities contrary to company’s policies and regulations.
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