Dear Editor,
It is not often that you will see a letter headlined ‘Thank you GPL’ without it being sarcasm, but permit me to relate a pleasant experience involving the power company. On Thursday night (April 8) around 9 pm, the power in my area was interrupted for about half of an hour. When it was restored it was accompanied by a series of fluctuations for about 15 minutes which subsequently resulted in another blackout, but this time only my immediate neighbours and I were affected. When I checked there were sparks coming from the wires on the post closest to my house and from the transformer across the road. So I did what most Guyanese hardly ever do, I called GPL’s emergency number. After finding my way through the automated answering system (why do people have these?) I was connected to an operator who was professional and courteous. I explained the situation and she took the details and my number and promised to call me back.

In less that 30 minutes she called me and connected me to the emergency crew headed by a Mr McGurdy (not sure of the spelling). He had already arrived in my street to fix the problem.

In less than 30 minutes! He and his crew quickly went about their job and in a matter of 15 minutes power was fully restored. The point of this letter, Editor, is that while many times we tend to bash the service sectors in Guyana, often deservedly so, there are a few times when we must give not only give kicks, but kudos. To the professional operator and to Mr McGurdy and his crew, thank you.

I know some of you will say, “Well duh is how deh should always operate; why you thanking them?” I say, let us recognise those among us who still try, even though they may be few and far between.

Yours faithfully,
Ajay Baksh
Still vex about the blackouts though.