Dear Editor,
To date, there has been nearly one hundred hours of blackout across East and West Berbice. And the hours seem to keep climbing every single day with no relief in sight. The power crisis is now in its most dire stage as Berbicians have been experiencing up to ten hours blackout every single day with Corentyne and West Berbice being the most hard- hit areas. Today (Thursday, October 16, 2008) alone, East Canje had a good eleven-hour blackout from just after 8 am straight through the day to 5 pm. It went off again at 7 pm and returned at around 9 pm. I don’t think we ever experienced such a lengthy generation shortfall problem with the Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL). I ask the question on everyone’s minds: just what the hell is going on?!
Georgetown is experiencing something of a similar nature as well, with dozens of areas highlighted every single day in the daily newspapers to receive blackouts and numerous blackout charts.
I have written numerous letters over the years about blackouts. Others have done so as well. The media has shown concern over this plague as well but today, October 2008, power blackouts are still a part of our Guyanese culture.
No one is really coming forward to give us the information we need as to what the problem is at GPL. GPL has stated that the Mirlees Blackstone engine is undergoing overhaul and maintenance and has to be taken out of operation every day from 6 am to 6 pm. Ok, we understand that, but what accounts for the blackouts that happen in the nighttime periods? Where are the Caterpillar Sets? Are they online? The Mirlees is at Canefield Power Station, so are there other problems at Onverwagt Power Station and #53 Village Sub- Station? Are all these stations experiencing problems at the same time? And last but not least, where does the Skeldon Sugar Factory play into all of this? I don’t even think I want to know. Because Berbicians have been told a number of times that Skeldon is the answer to our power problems but anyone can tell gullible Berbicians anything—they were just lies, damned lies!
Berbice is taking off, yes; indeed, we are taking off in the dark.
We are promised a reliable supply of power for every Christmas season as if to say that we don’t deserve the reliable supply during the rest of the year. This is pure nonsense! GPL is supposed to bring reliable supply of power to customers all year round. We are not concerned about your failing generating sets and generation shortfalls. You were mandated with the purpose of providing reliable and affordable supply of electricity to Guyanese and you have done no better than your former self, the Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC). How long more, Editor? How long more must Berbicians and other Guyanese fashion their lives to be in sync with this reality of blackouts. How long more must Guyanese be bored to death in their homes night after night with nothing to do, no TV to watch, no computer & internet, no radio, no lights?! How long more must Guyanese businesses suffer each day after thousands and possibly millions of dollars in losses due to the blackouts? How long more must our children study with kerosene lamps?
Our hard-working president had to inspect the Demerara Harbour Bridge himself. He had to be the one to notice that it was going to the dogs. He had to be the one to order works to be done on the structure. What a shame!
I would like comrade president to come to Berbice to inspect the Canje River Bridge and to visit the Canefield Power Station as well as the others. There seems to be no other solution. I bet that things will start to happen once this happens.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
