Essequibians suffering at GPL’s hand – Chamber of Commerce

…calls for Govt to intervene

The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) is calling on the Government to immediately intervene and bring some relief to the residents of Region Two, (Pomeroon-Supenaam) especially the business sector, who are all suffering tremendously due to the failing power company.
The ECCI President, Suean Seewnarayan on Wednesday said the region’s commerce is collapsing due to the poor service offered by Guyana Power and Light (GPL). She added that residents, especially the business sector, are in great danger of losing millions of dollars in cool storage items.
Businesses are already dumping products and those who have standby

generators are pumping thousands of dollars into fuel and maintenance costs.
The Chamber said it has noted Government’s silence on this very important issue. “No one is saying anything about the new power plant at Anna Regina which is far from completion and residents are losing confidence in the Government for not providing answers. If this power failure is not given immediate attention, the entire economy of the region will collapse,” the Chamber President noted.
According to Seewnarayan, millions of dollars have already been lost due to damages of equipment and other electrical household items. She added that two houses suddenly burst into flames and burnt completely as a result of suspected electrical fire.
“When are the authorities going to act? When it’s too late? The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is calling on the Government to immediately come to the rescue of GPL Anna Regina and give the region’s economy a chance to survive,” Seewnarayan noted.
Last week, GPL had said that it will rush a generator into the region by Monday.
The power company on Saturday last had admitted that the region has been experiencing frequent service interruptions since August 13 as a result of two of its units – the Number 3 and Number 8 – with an aggregate capacity of 2.8 MWs becoming inoperable, due to major mechanical and electrical issues respectively.
“On Monday, August 13, and Thursday, August 16, two of GPL’s units – the Number 3 and Number 8 – with an aggregate capacity of 2.8 MWs became inoperable due to major mechanical and electrical issues respectively. Since the Number 5 Unit with a capacity of 1.4 MWs was unavailable due to a major overhaul, only two units totalling three MWs are currently in operation,” GPL had said.
GPL has since noted that normalcy in electric flow is expected to return by Monday, but according to residents, this has not yet happened.
Just recently, a single mother struggling to make ends meet for her family was forced to dump over $200,000 worth of meat and fish owing to GPL’s faulty service.
Eresha Prashad, of La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast, a meat and fish vendor at the Anna Regina Market, said she stocked her freezer as she prepared for the busy weekend about two weeks ago.
The single mother is laying the blame for her losses at the feet of GPL.
Residents have since called on the power company to educate customers on the cycle change and how it can affect appliances which are not compatible. (Mohanlall Seulall)