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The recent challenges faced by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) underscore a significant oversight in the government’s approach to infrastructure development, particularly in terms of electricity. A fundamental responsibility of any administration is to ensure that as a country grows and develops, its infrastructure, especially vital services like electricity, keeps pace.
According to the President’s address, there seems to be an acknowledgment of a mismatch between the country’s growth trajectory and its readiness to meet increasing electricity demands. The argument points towards years of neglect, lack of proper maintenance, and minimal investment in expanding the system. Such claims, while concerning, reflect the depth of the challenge the nation faces.
Historical projections for electricity capacity are essential. Economic development, population growth, technological advancements, and government policies all play a role. It is evident from the President’s statement that in Guyana, there was not only a failure to adequately invest but also a potential misjudgment in predicting future needs. This situation is highlighted by the discrepancy between reliable generating capacity and actual demand. By any measure, this has been a gross dereliction of duty by the government of Guyana.
The Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had raised the same concerns. Constructing numerous commercial entities without parallel upgrades to the power infrastructure not only appears short-sighted but points to important institutions being run by novices who are often political cronies and their inability to do their jobs spell disaster for Guyanese citizens. The resultant pressure on the power grid was predictable, and GPL’s challenges, are a natural outcome.
However, it’s crucial to delve deeper. The President mentions efforts to mitigate these challenges, like removing large commercial consumers during peak hours. This is a temporary solution and doesn’t address the core issue. It becomes evident that the responsibility shouldn’t solely be on GPL. Instead, a comprehensive strategy from the government is required. One must also remember that we are dealing with a corrupt cabal of leaders who abhor transparency, so it is not a stretch to assume that this recent emergent spade of outages is intended to build support for the controversial Wales Gas Project.
Frequent power outages, like those in Bartica and the Essequibo Coast, disrupt lives and have economic consequences. Business losses, especially for those with perishable goods, and an eroding trust in the power system, are palpable concerns. Concrete homes where occupants are imprisoned, often because of criminal concerns, now offer no respite from the heat as there is no power to run the fans and other cooling equipment. The nation continues to suffer.
While the President acknowledges the problem, the emphasis on short-term fixes seems prevalent. The nation requires a long-term strategy, one that aligns with its growth projections. Guyana’s continuous growth will inevitably increase the demand for essential services. The government’s responsibility is to ensure infrastructure can accommodate this demand. Why is the government not considering the immediate relief of solar backup systems for each home? The sun is a renewable resource and the cost would be significantly less than the controversial multiple-billion-dollar Wales project.
Guyana’s strategy towards infrastructure, especially electricity, needs a holistic review. Infrastructure should be the driving force of growth, not its bottleneck. The President’s message, although informative, leans heavily on explaining past neglect rather than charting a clear path forward. The nation deserves and requires a well-defined roadmap that ensures a consistent electricity supply, accounting for current and future demands.
