Atlantic Cable Television Network’s (ACTN) incorrect laying of cables on Friday caused interference with Guyana Power and Light lines in Kingston resulting in mass blackouts on Saturday.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday told Stabroek News that the laying of the cables caused major interference with GPL lines on Parade and Cowan streets.
He said that GPL was fixing the issues up to Saturday night and that at first the state-owned company thought the issue was resolved on Friday evening. It wasn’t until there were still irregularities with the improperly laid ACTN cable interfering with GPL that blackouts plagued the city for hours on Saturday.
CEO of GPL Bharrat Dindyal was reported as saying that the cable was being laid illegally, however PM Hinds told the Stabroek News yesterday that it was in fact legal but being done incorrectly. He refuted reports that the fibre optic cable was piggybacking on GPL’s lines stating that they were not the same cables.
ACTN was granted approval for the works last year.
Dindyal was reported as saying that the ACTN cable became loose and made contact with GPL lines causing an explosion at Kingston. GPL could not be contacted for further information although PRO Shevion Sears-Murray had noted that a statement would be forthcoming on the cause.
Stabroek News spoke to residents living in various communities between Plaisance, East Coast Demerara and Eccles, East Bank Demerara and from all indications the power went off at the same time, 3:30pm. On Friday night, the outage engulfed the East Bank Demerara beyond Friendship.
