April, 1978 saw deteriorating power and water services in addition to the shortage of food and other items leaving a US embassy cable to say that the average Guyanese seems to have become demoralised over the “sharp decline in his standard of living”.
Released on whistle blowing Website Wiki-leaks, the US cable headlined `Essential services in Guyana decline further’ adverted to an April 2, 1978 article in the Guyana Chronicle which quoted the Chairman of the Guyana Electricity Cor-poration (GEC), Dillon Thompson as warning that another nine months of blackouts could be expected.
Thompson, the cable said attributed GEC’s difficulties to financial constraints: increases in the cost of fuel and equipment, maintenance problems and outstanding debts. The cable said that hardly had Thompson made this statement when a major power failure occurred on April 3rd. “All of Georgetown was blacked out and though service to hospitals and certain other priority subscribers was restored within four hours, residential areas were blacked out for 36 consecutive hours”, the cable stated.
Some of the poor sections had been without power for around 48 to 60 hours, the cable related. It said that GEC had reportedly made arrangements to buy three new boiler tubes but that these were not expected to arrive until August and then installation would take another three to four months.
The cable said that the old boilers had deteriorated to such a state that it was impossible to predict breakdowns. In addition, British and Canadian experts had arrived in Georgetown to see if anything could be done to keep the old plant running until the new equipment arrived.
Water services were also in a dire state as a result of a dry spell being experienced.
The cable said that as the level of the water had dropped sea water from the Atlantic had seeped into canals and creeks. As a result, the cable stated that city residents have had to deal with water pressure so low that it was impossible to get water.
“The lack of fresh water has also resulted in extremely unsanitary conditions in the city’s fresh produce markets and in the sewage system.
This it said, coupled with a major shortage of drugs and medicines, has raised public concern regarding the possible spread of contagious or infectious disease”, it stated.
The cable then went on to say that a multiplicity of shortages had also hit Guyanese.
“Long lines have formed for such items as chicken, eggs, margarine, soap, soap powder, cooking oil and toilet paper to name a few of the more conspicuous items in short supply. Arguments and fistfights have broken out among shoppers struggling to obtain the last bar of soap or box of detergent on store shelves.
Items such as soap powder and bars of soap are being rationed one to a customer and supplies run out long before every shopper has been served”, the cable stated.
The cable then commented as follows: “The severe economic downturn has had a strong effect on public morale. The average Guyanese seems to have become demoralized over the sharp decline in his standard of living”. The cable added that despite the occasional scuffles which had broken out at various stores there had been no indication yet of civil disturbances.
Nevertheless, the cable said “given the non-availability of essentials and the soaring costs of other products the frayed public temper could erupt in an incident in one of the crowded markets some morning”.
