Latest update March 17th, 2025 4:16 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

THE GREATER FAILURE

Oct 24, 2008 Editorial

One year ago, Joseph O’Lall, the then head of the Guyana Energy Authority (GEA), was fired and the Chairman of the Board of the Guyana Power and Light, Mr. Ronald Ally, was removed from his position following a situation that is not too dissimilar to what is taking place today in the nation.

One year ago, in the run up to Christmas, the country was plagued by power outages or blackouts. The problem was later diagnosed as relating to the supply of fuel and for this one man lost his job and the other his chairmanship.

The President personally intervened and saved Guyana from the Blackout Grinch. The Christmas trees illuminated homes as a sure sign that Guyana had its own secular saviour.

Well, the blackouts have returned. For weeks now, there have been extended periods of blackouts along our coast. When they first arose we were told that there was shortfall of generation caused by the fact that a number of generating units were down for maintenance in anticipation of the peak demand season for Christmas.

The blackouts were expected to be short. However, they have continued with even a schedule being published by the power company in the newspaper.

Things have however taken an ugly turn. First came a sudden high level criticism of the management of the Guyana Power and Light. Then came the disclosure that Guyana’s power demand is more than its supply, something that is inexplicable since Guyana has been constantly increasing its generating capacity and with the high cost of energy today even with increased areas being serviced, there ought to be sufficient generating capacity to deal with the problem.

We call on the President of Guyana to come to our rescue. However, we do not need any more mobile generating sets to be implemented. God knows that the sheer number of these sets we have purchased, we ought by now to be getting some free ones from the suppliers.

We do not need any more sets. What we need, foremostly, is a commission of inquiry into the electricity sector. This commission will answer the relevant questions that need answering and its verdict will ensure that the right course is followed so that come one year from now we do not have yet another repeat situation.

The government must have by now come to the realisation that its credibility is seriously being diminished because of the tendency of Guyana to move from one crisis to the next.

With all the talk of energy from bagasse, Guyana ought not today when the new sugar factory at Skeldon is up and running to be having problems with generation.

We urge the government to not make scapegoats of persons simply to appease a justifiably frustrated public. The people of Guyana have for years bore up with their suffering.

The Guyanese people will be willing, we are sure, to make sacrifices including a temporary enduring of blackouts, if they are convinced that a viable long term solution to the problem will result.

Unfortunately, the government does not seem to have the answers to the problems. We therefore hope that instead of the management of the power company being made scapegoats for the problems in the energy sector, there will be an attempt to investigate through an independent commission of inquiry the greater failure of energy policy.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Hermonstine elected New AAG president

Hermonstine elected New AAG president

Mar 17, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- Sheryl Amanda Hermonstine was elected President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) following the association’s Annual General Meeting and Election of Officer Bearers...
Read More
Bush Lot Sec’ topple Bartica, Chance’s hat-trick power Ann’s Grove to 8-1 win

Bush Lot Sec’ topple Bartica, Chance’s...

Mar 17, 2025

Jackson cops Pepsi Best Boxers award, NABG and ALBG share Best Gym

Jackson cops Pepsi Best Boxers award, NABG and...

Mar 17, 2025

Ballers United win 2025 Berbice Guinness Greatest of the Streets tournament

Ballers United win 2025 Berbice Guinness Greatest...

Mar 17, 2025

Guyana Beverages Inc. signs $2.5 Million sponsorship deal with Fruta Conquerors FC

Guyana Beverages Inc. signs $2.5 Million...

Mar 17, 2025

Guyana finish Group Stage in Third Place, set for Bronze Medal match at 2025 Junior Pan American Challenge

Guyana finish Group Stage in Third Place, set for...

Mar 16, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • In bucketfuls of it

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- It was a great economist, who, when asked about the fate of a nation’s economy, famously... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]