Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding recent statements made by the President regarding the government’s plan to seek engineers from Cuba to address Guyana’s electricity problems. As someone who has spent time in Cuba and witnessed firsthand the ongoing struggles with electricity shortages and blackouts, I find this proposal deeply troubling and impractical. Cuba’s electricity situation has been dire for several years, with frequent blackouts being a daily reality for its citizens. If Cuba has been unable to resolve its own electricity issues, it seems unlikely that they would have the expertise or resources to effectively assist Guyana in overcoming similar challenges. It appears to be a case of the blind leading the blind.
Furthermore, I must emphasize that Guyana already has capable engineers who are more than capable of addressing our electricity problems. However, the real issue lies in the mismanagement and political interference within the state sector, particularly within the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). It is concerning to note that qualified engineers are being sidelined in favour of political appointees, leading to a severe lack of technical expertise at the upper echelons of GPL. For example, the head of the Metering Department was appointed just three years after graduating from university, lacking the necessary knowledge and experience to effectively fulfill their role.
Meanwhile, individuals with years of experience and expertise are being overlooked for key positions, further exacerbating the problem. Even more alarming is the appointment of someone with a social sciences degree to head one of GPL’s most technical departments, the Loss Reduction department. This departure from tradition, where such departments were always headed by engineers, is akin to putting a chef in charge of a surgical department. Editor, this pattern of appointing unqualified and inexperienced individuals to crucial technical roles is not only detrimental to GPL’s operations but also causing a brain drain as qualified engineers are forced to seek employment elsewhere.
It is imperative that the government takes urgent action to address these systemic issues and prioritize merit-based appointments to ensure the effective management of Guyana’s electricity sector. I urge the president to reconsider the decision to seek engineers from Cuba and instead focus on harnessing the expertise and potential of our local engineering talent. Only through competent leadership and prudent management can we hope to overcome the challenges facing our electricity sector and ensure a brighter future for all Guyanese citizens.
Sincerely,
Pooran Hemchand