Blackouts: There are still some good people left in Guyana

Jul 25, 2019 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

In another column, I will offer my thoughts on what I consider the absolute non-starter in the suggestion of giving individual members of the poor strata 5,000 American dollars from oil revenues when those vast sums could be put to making our country more modern and functional.
On reading about that suggestion, power generation came immediately into mind. Blackouts are pushing people to leave this country in large numbers. Unless you are financially resourceful, blackouts are going to destroy the psychology of citizens who cannot afford a generator.
I was offered a generator by Stanley Ming, someone I respect immensely. It was a choice I had to make between my needs and my principles as a media practitioner. I know there would not have been any complications with Stanley; he is a decent fellow. But the moral foundation of my journalism told me it was not the right choice to accept.
Of course I would take things from Stanley. I did when I was just released from the Brickdam Police Station lockup on December 23 and he brought garlic pork. I would accept more servings of garlic pork from Stanley. My advice to people who could afford it is to buy a generator. Blackouts are going to be with the young people of Guyana until they become grandparents.
When my daughter was applying online to her university in England, blackouts came. She was angry. And I just stood helpless and couldn’t do a thing to calm her. My daughter got accepted and it was time to apply online for the visa. You are not going to believe it. She was about to conclude when blackout came. She had to start all over again, the next day. Can one imagine what goes through the mind of a young person when that happens?
Last week, blackout came in Turkeyen and what it did to me you will not believe. Here is the story. Six of our windows had become dysfunctional. They had to be changed. They are to the east where the rains batter them. They had to be changed. The company came, did their measurement and made the windows. My wife and I held back from the installation process because of the rain. They have to take out the old ones. But suppose rain comes while doing that; they won’t be able to do the cement and silicone aspects.
We waited and waited until we got a hot, sunny day. Such an opportunity came. We called the company. They came and the installation process started. The six old ones came out and six new ones were being installed. After the first one was done blackout came. The windows have to be driven into the wall by an electric gun.
The scary thought that enveloped us was if the installation could not be completed, where were we going to find the large amount of plastic to cover the open spaces if rain came the night or the next morning? And we would have to get lots of durable scotch tape. It was a nightmare facing my wife and me.
There were only two solutions – cover the spaces somehow and hope rain doesn’t come. But who says the company was free the next day to return. The other option was close to being impossible. What if we ask the guys to wait until the electricity comes back. My wife and I were not going down that road. How can you make such a request? Why would they want to linger about for hours when they have other jobs?
We didn’t put the question to them. The owner was with his employees and he decided he would stay until electricity came back. The lights returned two hours after and the job was done. We will always be thankful to that gentleman. My wife and I met a nice Guyanese. And we both concluded that some good folks are still left here.
My daughter wants to be in Guyana with her parents and I am not sure how she will take to blackouts on her return. After her experience with her online university application and visa application, I really don’t know how she will cope. How can anyone suggest that each year the treasury hand out 5,000 American dollars to thousands of persons, when over a period of time such a large sum could go to fixing the GPL? My arguments against the handout will soon follow. But for now, unless we fix GPL, only the rich side of Guyana will enjoy a modern life.

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