By way of a letter to the editor of this news agency, former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, placed blame squarely on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration for the recent surge in blackouts as well as ongoing challenges faced by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).
Patterson through his letter provided a thorough analysis of the issues at hand, backed by concrete examples and sharp criticism of the current government’s management of the power sector.
Patterson began by challenging President Irfaan Ali’s assertion that the current administration inherited a collapsing system. He refuted this claim, emphasizing the efforts made by the previous government to revitalize GPL, including the appointment of Albert Gordon to lead the company’s restructuring efforts. Patterson stated, “On assumption of duties, Mr. Gordon commenced reorganizing and revitalizing the then ailing company, setting it on a path towards sustainable growth and reliability.”
Highlighting the significant progress made during the coalition government’s tenure, particularly in power generation, Patterson contrasted the proactive approach taken by the coalition with the perceived inertia of the PPP. He emphasized the importance of effective technical management in ensuring operational efficiency and criticized the PPP’s decision to revert to outdated strategies.
“The dismissal of Mr. Gordon and the reinstatement of the previous CEO, despite documented performance issues, speaks volumes about the PPP’s misplaced priorities,” Patterson writes.
Turning his attention to transmission issues, Patterson cited the coalition government’s extensive infrastructure improvements, including the repair and upgrade of transmission lines and the installation of new feeder cables. He contrasted these achievements with the PPP’s perceived lack of progress and points to missed opportunities for development, such as the cancellation of a US$900 million line of credit intended for GPL’s infrastructure improvements.
Further, Patterson urged the government to prioritize accountability and effective governance in addressing Guyana’s power sector challenges. “No amount of plasters, fluff, bluff, fancy speeches, and high-priced PR will move GPL forward,” he asserted, calling for a renewed focus on practical solutions and genuine progress.
The government recently expended a whopping G$6 billion to purchase 17 second-hand generator sets as part of the temporary solution to meet the shortfall in GPL’s generation capacity. Despite this, several sections of the country have been experiencing blackouts almost everyday, leading to public outcries.
To this end, President Ali called a meeting with the senior management and the Board of Directors of GPL yesterday and noted he will be reading the riot act to them.
