Berbice residents yesterday took to social media where they shared their frustration about having to suffer hours-long power outages within the ancient county.
Around 1 am yesterday, residents suffered an outage with the power being restored in some parts about 55 minutes later. However, around 5 am, another power outage struck and the electricity this time returned around 10.30 am leaving residents and small business owners extremely frustrated.
When contacted yesterday seeking clarification as to when the power would be restored in the East Canje Area, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said, “the area is out of power due to a system fault. Power will be restored estimated time on or before 11 am.”
A small business owner from Cumberland, East Canje Berbice, who provides healthy food options to her customers, was severely affected as she had to delay orders waiting on power to be restored to be able to use her appliances. This resulted in her morning orders being massively reduced.
A resident on the Corentyne yesterday pointed out, that “despite significant investments by the Government of Guyana, GPL has remained a symbol of inefficiency and incompetence. The citizens of Guyana continue to suffer from frequent and disruptive power outages, a problem that has persisted for years despite various attempts to modernize and improve the power infrastructure.”
The woman noted, that “the introduction of the power ship was touted as a solution to the country’s chronic electricity issues. However, this measure has proven to be insufficient, as blackouts remain a common occurrence. These power outages not only inconvenience everyday life but also hinder economic growth and development, affecting businesses and industries across the nation.”
“Over the years, governments have changed, bringing new promises and policies aimed at fixing GPL. Yet, the utility company remains a sore issue that successive administrations have failed to resolve. The persistent problems at GPL highlight a deeper issue of mismanagement and lack of accountability within the organization. The inefficiencies are not only a drain on public resources but also a constant source of frustration for the Guyanese people who deserve a reliable and stable power supply.”
She stressed, that there is a need for a comprehensive and effective overhaul of GPL. “The government must take decisive action to address the systemic issues within the company and ensure that the investments made translate into tangible improvements in service delivery. Until then, the people of Guyana will continue to bear the brunt of GPL’s incompetence, enduring the inconvenience and economic impact of constant blackouts.”
Several other residents and small business owners shared their frustration where they called for GPL to be held accountable for the power outages.
