Georgetown, Guyana – In a purportedly high-stakes meeting held yesterday at State House, President Dr. Irfaan Ali delivered what was widely regarded as a stern warning to the Board of Directors and management of Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), alongside representatives from Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI) and Wartsila. However, despite the President’s vocal dissatisfaction and promises of imminent solutions, Guyanese citizens find themselves evvel again plunged into darkness, signaling a frustrating continuation of the pervasive blackout crisis. It is important to note that President Irfaan Ali took no responsibility for his government’s destruction of the former competent leadership team at GPL who navigated significant challenges to reduce blackouts by over 50% during the management by the Coalition government.
Ali’s meeting, aimed at addressing the longstanding issue of frequent power outages that have plagued the nation, saw him express his deep discontent with the performance of GPL. Invoking untruths about inherited challenges stemming from “years of neglect in maintenance and investment from 2015 to 2020”, the President emphasized the urgent need for action in resolving the nation’s energy woes. Among the key concerns raised were the exponential increase in demand, aging infrastructure, and a glaring lack of redundancy in transmission capabilities. The PPP government have no clue how to fix the nation’s energy woes.
Despite the President’s assurances and promises of governmental support, including engagement with UK Export Finance (UKEF) to explore financing options for transmission upgrades, as well as directives for the utility to seek alternative solutions to bridge the energy gap until the completion of the gas-fired power plant, little tangible progress seems to have been made.
As the day wore on, hopes for a swift resolution were dashed as reports of yet another blackout spread across the country. This latest power outage served as a bitter reminder to Guyanese citizens of the persistent failures of the energy sector and the apparent inability of authorities to effect meaningful change.
In response to the ongoing crisis, frustration and disillusionment among the populace are palpable. Many are questioning the effectiveness of governmental interventions and the sincerity of promises made by officials. With each passing blackout, public confidence in both the leadership and the utility company continues to erode, leaving many feeling abandoned and powerless in the face of an essential service in disarray.