Region 2 RDC to meet with GPL over constant power outages

– says public needs to be properly informed

By Indrawattie Natram

Following the constant power outages Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has been experiencing over the past months, several Councillors, both Government and Opposition, of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be meeting with the local manager of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to discuss the issue.

This disclosure was made by Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt at the recent statutory meeting of the RDC held on July 12 in the boardroom of the RDC at Anna Regina.

Ramdatt said that residents have been complaining about the fluctuation of the supply of electricity and he was of the view that the problem should be rectified as soon as possible. He informed those present at the meeting that he was told by officers from the Anna Regina power plant that the generators were currently experiencing mechanical problems. However, the Chairman said to his knowledge the generators have exceeded their service period and it was time for the installation of a more powerful generator. Interestingly, he said, there has been increased demand for power within the region due to the increase in the number of households.

From the RDC level, Ramdatt said, a letter will be sent to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on the issue. The Regional Chairman also said a meeting would be convened with the manager of the Anna Regina power plant so that information can be accessed on the issue.

The Chairman explained that often Essequibians were unprepared whenever they were hit by blackouts, since they were not able to access the advisory issued by the company. He advised that the company should inform the public whenever an outage was imminent, to minimise the inconvenience.

Increasingly, businesses have been complaining about the inconvenience the company has been putting them through owing to the poor work on media advisories.