Several residents on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday protested in front of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Anna Regina sub-station as they express their frustration with the frequent power outages in the region.
Representatives from the regional administration – led by Vice Chairman and acting Chairman of Region Two, Nandranie Coonjah; Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC); Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (RCD); Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI); and residents – joined in protest action on Friday to demand answers from GPL. According to residents, GPL has left them in the dark and has been reluctant to give answers about the
Some of the protesters outside GPL’s Anna Regina, Region Two substation
power woes in the region.
Speaking at the protest on Friday, Coonjah said GPL is very disrespectful to the residents of the region. She said the company is yet to reach out to residents to give a proper explanation for the prolonged power outages over the past two weeks.
Also voicing his disgust was Councillor Arnold Adams who added that he has to buy ice from as far as Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), just to keep his cool storage going. The entire region is suffering from a total shut down of electricity for long hours.
While the protesters were making their way to the main office in Anna Regina, security guards were placed at the gates securing the compound. The protesters were protesting for answers from GPL but no one from the head office came out to address their concerns. The protest action will continue on Monday.
Meanwhile, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said electricity distribution along the Essequibo Coast is expected to return to normalcy by Friday evening.
Earlier this week, the ECCI called on the Government to immediately intervene and bring some relief to the residents of Region Two.
According to Chamber President, Suean Seewnarayan, the region is suffering tremendously due to the failing power company.
She added that the region’s commerce is collapsing due to the poor service offered by GPL. Seewnarayan 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.
Last week, GPL had said that it will rush a generator into the region by Monday, August 20.
The power company on August 18 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.
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.
