Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Renford Homer has been tipped to replace the utility company’s acting CEO Colin Welch, sources say.
When Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson was approached in Parliament by Stabroek News yesterday he walked away saying “Come on man, please you all are big people”. Pressed on if Welch had been dismissed, he gave a terse “no” and continued his journey.
Welch has been a deeply controversial figure at GPL with questions being raised about his credentials and experience.
When the new Board of GPL was commissioned last month, Patterson had informed that the board had been given “all the dossiers” pertaining to administrative issues and its mandate included a review of aninvestigation into allegations against Welch pertaining to the importation of meters. “All the dossiers have been given to the respective members of the board to examine,” Patterson had said.
The Board was also charged with being responsible for appointing a substantive CEO and Deputy Chief Executive Officer along with other executive appointments.
The complaint against Welch alleged that he was in communication with the bidder and supplier of the meters, Tesco PLC, a British firm and Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited of China, respectively, urging them to supply false information.
Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) had slammed government for its “cavalier” treatment of allegations against the interim GPL chief saying that he should be sent on leave to facilitate an investigation.
In a statement pointing out that Welch had been implicated in irregularities involving the procurement of prepaid meters worth US$4 million by GPL, TIGI urged that he be sent on leave to facilitate an investigation.
TIGI said that given the standard set for officials against whom allegations are made, the same should apply to Welch.
