By Mark DaCosta- In a press statement issued Tuesday, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (OLO) raised alarm over the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s handling of the country’s power supply in the lead-up to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Christmas season. The opposition criticised the government’s poor planning, warning that Guyanese should brace for potential power outages during these high-demand periods.
The statement highlighted concerns surrounding the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) announcement that it is seeking an additional 60 megawatts (MW) of electricity to cope with the increased demand expected during the CPL and Christmas festivities. The opposition noted the irony of GPL’s late action, as the CPL tournament is already underway, and the additional power generation is only expected to be available by mid-October. This delay would render the extra power capacity irrelevant for CPL, which concludes in early October, leaving the nation vulnerable to blackouts throughout the event.
“This is another case of the PPP government’s hasty and disorganised approach to addressing the nation’s electricity needs,” the opposition said, referring to a legacy of frequent power outages, particularly during key national events. Last year, the administration struggled to meet the Christmas demand, despite acquiring used generator sets, which took months to become operational. Concerns were raised that the government’s current plans might also fail, potentially leading to a repeat of last year’s outages during the holiday season.
A significant part of the opposition’s statement focused on the government’s reliance on external solutions, such as the controversial power ship. This floating power station, intended to supply additional electricity to the grid, faced operational delays due to technical issues, further fuelling the perception of mismanagement. The opposition demanded greater transparency from the government regarding its plans to meet electricity demand, noting that such delays and technical setbacks are becoming all too familiar under the current administration.
The OLO’s statement also drew attention to broader energy policy concerns, specifically the allocation of oil revenues. With ExxonMobil Guyana set to spend over US$25 billion on the Uaru and Whiptail projects, slated for production in 2026 and 2027, and the Hammerhead project targeting 2029, the opposition raised concerns about Guyana’s share of the profits from these ventures. Under the existing agreement, ExxonMobil is able to recover up to 75 percent of its costs as “cost oil,” meaning Guyana’s share of revenues is likely to stagnate at around 12.5 percent, excluding royalties.
Despite assurances from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and ExxonMobil Guyana’s president, Alistair Routledge, that Guyana’s share of oil revenues will increase, the opposition expressed scepticism. They reiterated their earlier call for the government to release comprehensive financial statements from Exxon’s oil projects, which would offer clearer insights into how much revenue the nation can expect to receive.
Beyond energy concerns, the opposition also criticised the PPP government for its broader economic management, particularly in light of the recently released Mid-Year Report 2024. While the government boasts of a 49.7 percent growth in the economy for the first half of the year – largely fuelled by oil revenues – the opposition pointed out that this growth has not translated into tangible benefits for the average Guyanese. The recent teachers’ strike and the government’s minimal salary increase offer were highlighted as examples of this disconnect.
Furthermore, the opposition expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in reducing the country’s food import bill, a key part of Guyana’s commitment to the CARICOM 25 by 2025 initiative, aimed at reducing food imports across the region by 25 percent. Despite these promises, the government has offered little information on how it plans to meet this target, with the Mid-Year Report remaining notably silent on the issue.
The opposition also accused the government of failing to address inflation, which has hit many households hard, particularly in the area of food prices. Despite government reports showing a modest inflation rate of 4 percent, the opposition argues that this figure grossly underestimates the true impact of inflation on ordinary citizens, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.
The press statement ended with a stark warning to the government. The opposition called on the PPP to urgently address the country’s energy and economic challenges, or face further erosion of public confidence. They stressed the need for more people-centred policies, transparent governance, and a stronger commitment to ensuring that the benefits of Guyana’s oil wealth reach all citizens, rather than a select few.
As the nation prepares for both the excitement of CPL and the festive Christmas season, many will be watching closely to see whether the government can deliver on its promises — or whether yet another crisis will unfold under its watch.
