Jagdeo ‘tired’ of excuses from GPL – vows overhaul if PPP re-elected
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has signalled that the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) will face sweeping reforms and a strengthened management team if the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is returned to office after the September 1 elections.
Speaking at his weekly press conference at Freedom House yesterday, Dr. Jagdeo admitted he is “tired” of hearing excuses for the frequent blackouts plaguing the country. “Sometimes, I just don’t find the excuses funny,” he told reporters, adding that while some outages were necessary to facilitate road and transmission works, others have raised suspicion among supporters that they may be politically motivated. “It could be sabotage by some people. I don’t want to believe that,” he said.
The VP noted that government is aware the current GPL management may not be capable of leading the administration’s “massive” transformation plans, which include a stable smart grid before the next elections. Among the projects in motion is the landmark Gas-to-Energy facility at Wales, Region Three, expected to generate 300 megawatts of power. He said an additional 300 megawatts will be needed, prompting the resumption of the hydropower project.
Other plans include constructing steel-tower transmission lines linking Berbice, Linden and Parika, while the Essequibo Coast will receive its own independent system. A nationwide replacement of ageing lines, transformers and circuit systems is underway to build redundancy and prevent system-wide shutdowns. Earlier this year, the government signed US\$422.2 million in contracts for transmission lines along the eastern corridor of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, and is building a high-tech control centre at Eccles to detect outages instantly and dispatch crews.
“It would be stupid of us to put in all of this investment and not strengthen the management and the capability of GPL to manage the process,” Jagdeo stressed.
Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had earlier criticised GPL’s leadership, pointing to rising losses, poor service, and continued blackouts despite increased generation capacity from powerships, containerised generators, and existing stock. The Alliance For Change has called for both local and external experts to be brought in, arguing that without competent management, even flagship projects like Gas-to-Energy will fail to solve the electricity crisis.
Jagdeo maintains that if re-elected, his administration will ensure these structural reforms take effect to end the blackout woes once and for all.
