Accidents and blackouts

Nov 16, 2023 Editorial

Kaieteur News – The GPL Inc. came into the public domain with a strange one to explain the spate of recent blackouts. A senior official from the GPL pointed a finger at vehicular and construction accidents.  An example of the latter would be when the boom of a crane knocks over an electricity pole that is part of the GPL network.  According to the GPL, there is a cascading effect with large areas impacted by blackouts. We at this paper are going to call this for what it is: an excuse that collapses under the weight of scrutiny.  It would have been better if the GPL had kept quiet.

The frequency of blackouts plaguing Guyanese businesses and households has been so steady that it has reached alarming proportions. Guyanese turn around and the light is gone. They get ready to take care of the family, or the children prepare to study, or there are plans to do some work from home, and the lights go out.  It has not been once a week, but an almost daily occurrence.  Taking the GPL’s curious defense, it follows, therefore, that these vehicular and construction accidents are occurring daily. Also, that they are almost always knocking out a GPL pole, and with a corresponding daily knockout punch smacking Guyanese families and businesspeople across the face.  It is either Guyana has some really terrible drivers and construction equipment operators, or that the GPL is clutching at straws and is pulling any rabbits out of hats to quiet Guyanese.  We are not buying this explanation that sounds like covering-up for the near constant blackouts that have wreaked havoc on daily Guyanese life.

Something else is not making sense, and further tears apart the GPL’s public pretense about vehicular and construction accidents being major culprits in the wave after wave of blackouts.  The light is on, then the light goes out, which if that were all would give some credence to what the GPL is saying as being responsible.  However, when the lights come on, they remain so for a period during that same day, then they go out again for an extended period, and often more than a few times.  Taking the GPL’s position into account, this could signify that there is a series of vehicular and construction accidents that knockout electricity poles, all in the same day, and leave Guyanese in the dark.  Moreover, when this takes place several days a week, and for weeks at a time, it should mean that there have been a rash of accidents of the types identified, and that there are far fewer GPL electricity poles standing.

Stretching reasoning to extreme levels, it means that accidents are occurring fast and furious across the Guyana landscape, viz., on as many roadways and construction sites as there are this country, and with scant space between them. It would be interesting to learn what the Guyana Police Force traffic records have to say about accidents, and how those reconcile with what has been mentioned by the GPL. The same goes for the relevant Ministry of Labor (or EPA) record of workplace mishaps and how those also matchup with the GPL’s pronouncement. Like we said earlier, the GPL would have salvaged some of its tattered reputation, (at least allow Guyanese tempers to cool) if only there was the wisdom to keep its mouth shut.

We understand that the GPL has its problems, and despite the many more billions poured into it, the problems keep mounting and taking on new lives.  The prevailing thinking at the GPL seems to be that a good public relations posture is the best course of action, and that there must be some form of damage control.  They both have turned out to be losers, and leave the GPL in a worse place. Which Guyanese is going to be foolish as to put any trust into what people at the GPL say?  Sometimes too much focus on spinning leads to a web that causes the feet to tangle. Separately, the GPL has given assurances that the blackout woes are going to ease before the Christmas holidays.  Let us hope that the drinking and driving and related accidents around that time also ease.

• accidents, blackouts, Editorial, GPL Inc., Guyanese