Latest update April 16th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2013 News
Three days have passed since Guyana Power and Light (GPL)’s loss reduction team swooped down on the Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara community and removed the meters from the homes of residents on charges that the meters were being tampered with.
The days to follow saw GPL’s Commercial Office flooded with anxious villagers seeking to have their power reconnected.
According to reports, some of the residents who returned to the office on Tuesday were
advised by the Customer Clerk, of fees amounting to $23,200 that had to be paid before their meter could be reinstalled. The total fee included a fee for the replacement of the meter, an investigation fee and a reconnection fee. One resident, Parawattie Singh, said that in addition to the aforementioned sum, she was told that there was a back bill attached that could be paid by means of a contract, and that she should return the following day to have the arrangements of the contract finalized.
However, based on the outcome of the meeting held by Government and GPL’s officials on Wednesday evening, residents saw no need to return to the office. The meeting, held at the Enterprise Community Ground, was attended by Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharat Dindyal; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony; and Attorney General Anil Nandlall who sought to address the concerns of members of the community.
According to residents, word of the meeting spread quickly and attracted an attendance of over 200 residents. Gaitrie Sahadeo, whose meter was taken away on Sunday, said that the officials proclaimed that they want to work with the people and that they want everyone to be repowered.
However, some deemed the meeting as noisy where even attacks to GPL staffers in relation to the tampered meters were made. Reports are that some of the tampered meters were taken along and shown to the villagers who reacted by proclaiming their innocence.
With regards to the $10,000 bail that the villagers were required to post, the officials assured that the people will be refunded their money and that measures will be made to reduce the fees that the residents are required to pay.
Meanwhile, the GPL loss reduction crew along with Operations Manager, Wayne Watson, ventured into the community yesterday where they went house to house to review the cases of the residents whose meters were taken away.
According to the residents, when the GPL crew visited their homes yesterday, they were told to visit the Sheriff Street Branch today where they will be advised of their next step. Sahadeo said that the staffers who disconnected her meter along with the Operations Manager visited her home and rechecked her meter. She stated that the men referred to the document which was written up on the day she lost her meter while the technicians pointed out their findings to the Operations Manager.
It is expected that electricity to the residents who lost their meters will be restored some time during this week. Residents are hopeful that the promises made will not go unbroken since they have already endured days without current.
Regarding the fees that were paid to the Office on Tuesday, the residents are hoping today’s visit to the Sheriff Street office will clarify whether they will be refunded that sum as well since the response to questions put forth to officials at the meeting on Wednesday evening regarding that sum of money were unclear.
The Sheriff Street office is likely to brief the residents on the steps that are needed to take in order to reclaim their meter, after which they would be forwarded to the Commercial Office to make the necessary payments.
Jagdeo prostituting Guyana
Apr 16, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Despite fielding a team that comprised several debutants, Guyana finished second overall in the Order of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) ‘Champion of Champions’ Boxing...Kaieteur News – The recent passage and signing into law of Venezuela’s Organic Law for the Defence of the Essequibo,... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
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]