GPL has become a disgrace to the Guyanese people
Dear Editor,
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,” etc. (John 3:16). It does not say, “God so loved those who are in receipt of free electricity from GPL …” The Senior Management at GPL is a disgrace not only to the people but to all families that are struggling to meet their monthly light bill payments. On top of an oppressive electricity rate averaging approximately US$0.33 per kWh (compared to Suriname at US$0.06 per kWh), the tariff payers are faced with massive financial persecution if by chance their electricity is disconnected. Disconnection by itself is punitive and thus, a reconnection fee of G$3,200 (even G$5,000) is fair plus the settlement of all outstanding past bills. But to impose the condition that to benefit from reconnected services, one has to pay a security deposit valued at six (6) months of average electricity usage is nothing but criminal. I am sure if challenged in law, it might be found to be illegal.
In an environment with one of the highest amount of line and commercial losses in the Western Hemisphere, the Senior Management of GPL has the audacity to demand that the poor people at the back of Lusignan fund their incompetence and inefficiencies? Are they nuts? But what is mind-boggling is that the political directorate in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has done very little to address this situation, instead, they choose a hands-off approach while the people suffer. Is this the good life?
In the APNU+AFC manifesto, it promised that it shall govern in an environment that attacks the “ravages of poverty and discrimination….”. Well, this decision by GPL is a clear act of discrimination against the poor and the working class.
GPL has taken bread out of poor people’s mouth and will continue to do so if this draconian act continues. This situation points to a political disaster in March 2016 for those who are hiding in their air-conditioned offices burning free electricity. What is coming out is that the Minister is protecting the acting CEO of GPL and I wonder why? In an environment where so many dark clouds are hanging over the acting CEO’s head, he was left in position while an investigation was being conducted into his alleged tampering with a multi-million dollar procurement process. Is PPP financial skullduggery alive and well today and being given political coverage by certain Ministers in the APNU+AFC Government?
Unfortunately, the “struggle for good governance movement” seems to have lost one of its most ardent columnists Mr. Christopher Ram who in the old days would have been all over this perceived financial skullduggery, calling out the wrong doers. Unfortunate indeed, but we must welcome young minds like Gordon Moseley who broke this story. I supported a change in government in May 2015 and I still do believe it was the right thing to do in order to stop the plundering of the Treasury by the PPP cabal. But then I am always guided by Martin Niemoller wisdom. Therefore irrespective of who conducted the acts of wrong doing, they must be called out.
What did Niemoller say – “In Germany they first came for the Communists and I didn’t speak up. Because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews but I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists but I was no Unionist so I didn’t speak up. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time no was left to speak for me.” I still believe President Granger is a good man but he has some dead wood on his team who continues to hurt his legacy. Agriculture science taught me that there is only one thing you do with dead wood. The word is prune!
Sase Singh