Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 11, 2015 News
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge says that while the 10 percent reduction in electricity charges by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is a most welcome development, there are still some critical matters which need to be addressed.
Government announced recently that a ten per cent reduction in electricity tariffs will be implemented from next month.
Greenidge made this statement during an interview with this publication yesterday. The politician was asked to give his take on the new tariff charges as well as the recently commissioned power station at Vreed-en-Hoop.
The opposition member emphasized that fuel prices have come down since June of last year, yet the government only announced a reduction in prices of fuel at the pumps in January.
He also stated that while the commissioning of the US $36M power station at Vreed-en-Hoop is part of government’s programme of building electricity-generating capacity, there remains the issue of the overall electricity problem that government is failing to address.
Greenidge is of the opinion that there are many sides to the generating of electricity that one needs to pay attention to. He asserted that since the prices on the international market are down, the government should ensure that the poor benefit from the reduction through a more careful fuel policy.
“The government does not give precedence to the poor, but on how much it can siphon off first, before they think about them,” the former finance minister stated.
Greenidge mentioned the loan that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had provided to the Government of Guyana last year and stated that the current administration still needs to give clarity on how exactly those funds were utilized.
He added, “The Government is only making it look like they are doing a lot of good.”
Also giving his take on the matter was Clinton Williams, Chairman of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).
Williams expressed to this publication that the move to slash the electricity tariff by 10% was a good initiative, bringing benefits for Guyana as a whole.
Ramesh Persaud, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), lauded the new power station stating that it would go a far way in making the country more energy efficient.
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) on Monday commissioned the company’s largest and most modern electricity generating plant at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
The new power plant will generate 26 megawatts of electricity that can power the whole of West Demerara, parts of Georgetown, and reach areas as far as Berbice.
The US$36M power plant and substation were two years in construction. President Donald Ramotar, along with several government ministers, and GPL executives were there for the commissioning.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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