Dear Editor,
Over the past several months there was an increase of 15% in electricity tariff making the cost per KWH paid for electricity in Guyana one of the world’s most expensive. At the same time daily black-outs and brown-outs lasting for varying periods have been the order of the day in various parts of Georgetown.
It seems that Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is on the skids. Lack of strategic direction and with poor management skills in place, its ability to motivate and direct its workforce to manage GPL efficiently is reflected in the poor, expensive and shoddy service it provides its customers. With such a dismal record of management, any traded public company would have had heads rolling but since GPL is a government entity, it is business as usual.
GPL is supposed to be managed by a Chairman and Board of Directors under the Prime Minister’s portfolio. However, policy formation and direction seems to emanate from other Government ministries leaving GPL customers in a confused state to comprehend who is really responsible to provide GPL with the leadership and vision necessary to formulate and implement policies necessary to achieve the strategic objectives of providing its customers with a reliable, efficient and cost effective service.