GRA admits to stealing electricity

Oct 04, 2009 News

…GPL should not have gone to media -Sattaur

Khurshid Sattaur

Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur says that the illegal connection that was discovered at one of the Guyana Revenue Authority’s building was not authorized and that the entity does not condone theft.
He further promised that he would launch an investigation into the incident. Sattaur was however adamant that he was incensed with the article especially since he had to learn about it when a reporter from this newspaper contacted him for a comment.
He said too, that in light of the fact that the information was made public by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) before contacting GRA he would have to review the relationship between that entity and the utility company.
According to Sattaur, GPL is allowed millions of dollars in concessions every month as it relates to spares and fuel among other items, more so the power company was heavily in arrears but the two still shared an amicable relationship in the past.
According to Sattaur, he will be seriously addressing the issue and as it relates to GPL, “I will deal with them.”
Sattaur was upset that the information surfaced in the media before the power company could make contact with him and he emphasized that the situation has fractured their relationship.
According to Sattaur the utility company owes GRA an apology.
GPL, during a routine check of business premises, recently found that both the Guyana Revenue Authority and the new Anna Regina Municipal market, located at Bush Lot Village on the Essequibo Coast, were stealing electricity.
This newspaper was told by a source from GPL that both entities are unmetered. According to the source from GPL, the GRA was found stealing current through a wire that was connected to stilt air conditioning unit that was attached to the GRA building.
However, at new Bush Lot market, impression of illegal wires was seen connecting from the main office.
To date GPL has not made a report to the police.