Rapid developments at Lethem made it a priority area over Mabaruma when government was considering where to increase electricity supply, according to Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall.
Proposals are now being considered for Region One, Lall said yesterday, as he faced questions from opposition MPs on whether the supply would improve in the region this year.
PNCR-1G MP Desmond Fernandes raised the question of increased funding for fuel purchases by the Ministry in 2011 and he pointedly asked if this means that the frequent power outages would end for residents. Lall said not this year. “The supply remains the same this year, but the PM [Prime Minister] is considering some proposals on a short and medium term basis for them to put electricity to Region One,” Lall told the National Assembly and he also disclosed that the priority in this area went to Lethem.
With the disclosure barely off his lips, PNCR-1G MP Aubrey Norton asked Lall what factors informed the decision to make Lethem a priority over Region One. Lall then declared that Lethem is growing rapidly in business and populace. Lall mentioned that Lethem already has generators, but that they are moving to increase the capacity there given all that has been happening. He said that many people are now taking up residence in the area, in addition to the creation of a commercial zone.
He also noted that a bank is being there built there, while saying there had been some urgency to increase capacity in Lethem. To this, Norton said, “I though Moco Moco was to solve the problems but let’s move on.”
The questions then shifted to whether illegal fuel could be circulating in Region One, following the exit of GuyOil from the region. Fernandes, who had earlier lamented the closure of GuyOil in the region during his budget presentation, questioned where the region is now sourcing fuel from.
According to Lall, the people in the region have since worked out creative methods of acquiring fuel and this includes a working relationship with the Wauna Palm Oil facility for bio-diesel.
He said government held talks with many operators in the sector but no one has shown an interest in servicing the area “because of the peculiarities of the situation.”
Lall insisted that only authorized dealers which are recognized by government’s accounting are operating in Region One and he stressed that there is no shortage of fuel in the region.
AFC MP Sheila Holder questioned why the state-owned GuyOil pulled out of the region and Lall responded that while it is government owned, it is still a business; a business which is not willing to subside an operation in Mabaruma.
Holder then asked whether the ministry is aware of fuel smuggling in the area, to which Lall said, “I don’t have a comment to make on that.” But pressed on the issue by Fernandes, he declared that the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has provided licences for persons to operate in Mabaruma and he promised to supply the names. “As I’ve said before, these people are audited by our accounting general…they are legitimate suppliers of fuel having been given licences by the GEA,” he added.
