Dear Editor,
It appears that the electricity problems of Lethem and its environs are far from over. Between last night (Tuesday, February 25) and today (Wednesday 26th) we have had five power outages ranging from fifteen minutes to forty-five minutes. There have been similar outages since the arrival of the two new L G Wilson 750 generators. There is, however, a pattern to these outages: the electricity goes at 5pm in one of the sections and is restored at 7pm. Then it goes intermittently between 1am and 4am. Calls to the power station are met with a plethora of excuses and explanations. One such excuse was that the workers are not familiar with the engines since they are an upgrade on the previous model.
Tonight (Wednesday 26th), when it seemed like the electricity was off longer than usual, Mr Carlton Beckles and I went down to the power house to get a first-hand glimpse of what was happening. We were met by employees playing games on their mobile phones. One of the new generators was in operation. We asked to speak with the supervisor but he was not available. I tried calling the Chairman of the Board but his phone rang out. I called the number for the acting CEO with the same result.
However he returned my call and this is what in essence he told me. He said that the new engine is quite sensitive. It is so sensitive that if the water or oil levels reach below a certain mark, the engine shuts down. He also said that when they try to put the entire load on the engine, it shuts down. He said they are trying to get the technician to determine why this is so. Pim! Pim! Doesn’t all of this sound familiar? If one does not think so, then they need to read my (according to a letter in the GC of February 21 by Peter Persaud) long-winded letter recently in the SN.
I did say in that letter that time has a way of vindicating me. I never thought it would be that soon.
Today also, I was in conversation with an engineer, an authority on these matters, and he informed me that he did some research on the engines in question. He found out that the L G Wilson 750 is not suited for the purpose it is currently being used for here. Rather, it is best suited for stand-by purposes for large companies like Banks DIH and DDL. It might be instructive to find out what brand of stand-by generators those companies have.
One would have thought that the two engines in use would be used simultaneously during peak hours and as consumers start to fall off for one reason or the other, the reduced load would then be switched to the larger generator. In this way, the smaller one would be rested.
I therefore stand by my previous assertion that there is a management deficiency at LMPCI.
The PM had visited Lethem on Saturday, February 15 to commission one of the new engines very unceremoniously. He refused to meet with residents to discuss this very contentious issue. I think he missed a golden opportunity to display his listening skills.
The result is that we are getting more of the same thing. And as I said in my previous letter, the increase in tariffs did not result in 24/7 electricity in 2009, and it will not change in 2014.
The people of Lethem have once again being fooled by this administration which continues to trample on agreements made in good faith. One thing is certain: this time we will not take it lying down. Something has to give if effective change is going to be realised.
Yours faithfully,
Carl A Parker (Sr)
Regional Councillor
