Former Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has condemned the Government’s approval of a US$650,000-per-month consultancy contract between the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and the Dominican Republic-based InterEnergy Group, calling it an “outrageous exploitation” of the country’s wealth and a slap in the face of ordinary Guyanese.
In a strongly worded public statement, Narine accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of prioritising elite foreign interests over the urgent needs of Guyanese citizens, describing the deal as “an insult to the intelligence and struggles of the Guyanese people.”
“This is not development, this is exploitation of our tax dollars and natural resources wealth, funnelled into a single-sourced contract that reeks of backroom dealings and zero transparency,” Narine stated. “At a time when Guyanese families are grappling with rising living costs, poor healthcare, underfunded schools, and unreliable electricity, the PPP sees it fit to hand over nearly GYD $140 million every month to foreign consultants.”
He questioned the basis for awarding such a massive contract without any public tender and criticised the timing, given GPL’s continued dependence on rented powerships and the lack of progress on the flagship gas-to-energy project.
“What have we truly gained from the initial MoU with InterEnergy signed in January 2024?” he asked. “Why wasn’t this contract opened to competitive bidding? Why are we paying such an astronomical sum while critical infrastructure still flounders?”
Narine, a former Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force and current Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits, argued that the government’s actions demonstrate a consistent pattern of mismanaging the country’s oil wealth.
“Instead of investing in our own engineers, our universities, and our technological capacity, the PPP government continues to approve sweetheart deals that benefit a privileged few at the top—while everyday Guyanese are left behind.”
He called on citizens across the country to reject the government’s approach, urging them to demand accountability and vote for change in the upcoming September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections.
“This is our money. This is our future,” Narine said. “We must rise above this betrayal and vote the PPP out of office. Let us reclaim our resources, restore transparency, and demand a government that serves the people—not foreign consultants and private interests.”
The controversial deal, framed as a move to provide “technical assistance” to GPL, raises national concerns over transparency, equity, and the use of oil revenues in a country still struggling with basic service delivery.
