Let there really be light
Dear Editor,
From Britain to Korea to the Caribbean, GPL has defied the world!
Should I now dare hope? For a utility, a facility, a basic service that is a taken-forgranted necessity and characteristic in more normal modern societies? After governments headed by Burnham, Hoyte, Jagan, Hinds, Jagan, Jagdeo, Ramotar and Granger (8 of them) will my Guyana now join civilised nations not at war in enjoying non-stop continuous electric power?
Let me be briefly anecdotal: at the end of South Ruimveldt Park in Georgetown my close friend’s grandson’s first whole words included “Current! Current! Lights come back!” That young man spent thirteen years in New York, USA only to return – on vacation - to experience his childhood “blackouts” still with us. From the mid-seventies onwards no government could provide even Georgetown with reliable power. I’m too tired to detail all the reasons proffered.
Years ago through Guyenterprise advertising, I was on a team that engaged an Irish company –ESBI - which pledged to supply us with non-stop power. That Company which, I think had no challenge in “powering Barbados – was appalled at the out-of-production, archaic equipment being “operated” by GPL. After a few months ESBI quit. But over a few bottles of beer once, the lead engineer told me that “Guyanese are the best” he ever encountered at stealing electricity; or underpaying for it. Only in Botswana (?) was there any comparison to the Guyanese electricity customer. The foreigner declared: “Guyanese are the best because they get help and advice from right within the GPL!” Under Sam Hinds I produced a full supplement - “Let there be light”. Under the recent Brigadier government many other foreign experts tried with GPL - Koreans, et al and a Jamaican was appointed as Head now it’s the PPP’s turn again to make us a civilized electricity state. I see that a private concern Giftland is poised to contribute. Do I dare hope? Even without recourse to oil-andgas revenues, could we begin to enjoy normalcy? Power and Light night and day? Fossil? Solar? Hydro? Wind? Help! Help bishop help!
Yours faithfully, Allan Arthur Fenty