Workers will not be displaced due to agreement with InterEnergy Group – GPL

Jul 20, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has assured that its workers will not be adversely affected by its agreement with Dominican Republic’s InterEnergy Group (IEG), no employee of the company will be displaced or replaced.

The company in a statement to the media on Friday made it clear that it has the workers’ interest at heart and that they will benefit from training, hands-on experience and exposure alongside the international experts, thereby ensuring local capacity is strengthened and long term sustainability of Guyana’s energy sector.

“The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) wishes to address recent unauthorized publications and misleading materials circulating in the public domain regarding its collaboration with InterEnergy Group (IEG). These materials falsely claim that the partnership will result in job losses for GPL employees. GPL categorically states that these claims are inaccurate and misleading,” the statement said.

GPL’s statement followed statements made by executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Ganesh Mahipaul at an A Partnerhsip for National Unity (APNU) press conference on Friday.

On July 19, Kaieteur News reported that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) cautioned the government against the GPL signing an agreement with the Dominican Republic’s Company. That company has been earmarked to assist GPL in stabilizing power generation and delivery.

APNU made the call on Friday noting that should a deal be struck with LEG there would be severe implications for the hundreds of staff employed by GPL.

Mahipaul said that, “The APNU Coalition has noted with deep concern and alarm the circulation of a draft Public-Private Partnership Agreement between the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and InterEnergy Group Limited (IEG), dated June 26, 2025. This Agreement is reportedly awaiting signatures of the Chairman of the GPL Board, and Mr. Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, Chairman of InterEnergy Group,” the politician said.

Mahipaul argued that the government’s agreement to sign the agreement raises “profound and troubling concerns” for Guyana, citing that the deal is shrouded in secrecy and lacks transparency as it was not the subject of public consultations and scrutiny.

“Such secrecy undermines democratic governance and public accountability and is clearly another PPP corrupt deal aimed at benefiting PPP family, friends and favourites,” Mahipaul stated.

The coalition member said the way the agreement appears to be structured it is likely that hundreds of workers attached to GPL and Power Producers and Distributors Inc (PPDI) will lose their jobs. This he said will result in the workers being paid severance and the restructuring costs unfairly landing on the taxpayers of the country.

A move he believes would be “corrupt, unacceptable and unjust.”

Mahipaul told reporters that there will be “foreign control and limited oversight as InterEnergy Group, based on its prior record of accomplishment, has had significant operational issues, notably a reported 300% increase in power outages under its watch in Jamaica and serious allegations of fraud previously directed against its chairman. It is alarming that such a company would be granted broad control over Guyana’s critical national energy infrastructure, particularly procurement and contractor selection. This is unacceptable and must be brought to an end at once.”

Given these concerns, the APNU is asking the government to urgently bring the “corrupt deal” to an end and to not take any further action in regards to it as elections are scheduled for September 1, 2025.

The party is also demanding the government makes public the full text of the agreement and provide the independent technical and financial assessment that was done and the name of the company that did the studies.

Notwithstanding the statements by Mahipaul, GPL said that in January 2024 it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with InterEnergy Group to explore opportunities for collaboration. The MoU enables the power company to benefit from the extensive technical expertise of the IEG via knowledge sharing as well as consultations.

GPL said that since the signing of the MoU both companies have had discussions focused on the IEG providing technical assistance to support GPL’s ongoing and future infrastructure development projects.

“As GPL undertakes major infrastructural upgrades to modernize and expand the national electricity grid, the need for specialized expertise is critical. InterEnergy Group, with its proven track record in building and managing successful electricity networks across the region, is well-positioned to provide valuable support,” the statement added.

GPL said too that the collaboration is not intended “to displace or replace GPL employees. On the contrary, it is designed to enhance the capabilities of our workforce.”

Additionally the company assured that it remains “committed to transparency, employee development, and national progress. We urge the public to rely on official GPL communications for accurate information and to disregard unauthorized and speculative content.”

Key Focus: Workers will not be displaced due to agreement with InterEnergy Group – GPL

Lede: The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has assured that its workers will not be adversely affected by its agreement with Dominican Republic’s InterEnergy Group (IEG), no employee of the company will be displaced or replaced.

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• displaced, Dominican Republic's, GPL. IEG, InterEnergy Group

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