The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday expressed disappointment at the opposition’s rejection of a bill and debt motion that would have facilitated the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, saying that it should not be linked to governance issues.
At a press conference held at the PSC’s headquarters in Waterloo Street, President Ron Webster and Chairman Kit Nascimento, among other members, pointed out their dissatisfaction with the move to have the bill and motion rejected.
On Thursday, the Opposition chose to remain silent during the debate of the Hydro Electric Power Amendment Bill 2013 and the motion on raising the limit on guarantees given under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act. Government had earlier in the session also opted for silence when pressed on proceeding with a suite of local government reform bills.
The PSC stated that the project had enormous benefits of cheaper and reliable power and was absolutely necessary to meet Guyana’s energy requirements. “It is absolutely essential for business to be competitive. It is absolutely essential for electricity to become affordable…if we are to avoid the government either having to increase electrical rate subsidies or impose drastic tariff increases,” Webster said.
Further, the PSC is advising the opposition that if they needed clarity or had objections to any of the facts relating to the project, they should name these and try to find an amicable way to resolve them with government.
The PSC believes that “the damaging consequences of failure to conclude the Amaila Falls project would be irretrievable for years to come,” Webster said.
Nascimento described APNU and AFC’s stance as “disconcerting” if they hold firm to the position that they would not support the project unless government approves the four local government amendment bills. “What we’re not interested in is that they will only agree to it if the government agrees to some other things.
There are some projects that we believe are extremely nationalist that are apolitical and non-political in nature and that the country should not be made to pay the consequences of losing them because they reach beyond political considerations,” he said.
The PSC leaders once more offered the organisation to be a mediator during negotiations, while adding that the Private Sector and can do no more than to appeal to all to let good sense prevail before it becomes too late.
