As Guyana approaches its peak electricity demand periods, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Christmas season, the opposition PNCR/ APNU has voiced concerns regarding the government’s ability to manage the nation’s power grid.
In a statement, PNCR/APNU said that the Guyana Power and Light’s admission that it is seeking an additional 60 megawatts to meet the demands of the CPL and Christmas comes as a stark reminder of the government’s persistent planning failures. With the CPL already in progress and the power augmentation process expected to conclude only by October 17—well after the tournament ends—there is a real possibility that Guyanese may experience power outages during these critical events, it said.
This situation underscores a troubling trend in the government’s approach to managing electricity needs, characterized by last-minute solutions. Historical issues with power generation have included delays in deploying previously acquired generator sets and problems with integrating new power generators. Such inefficiencies suggest that Guyana may once again face electricity shortages during the festive season, the opposition said.
The PNCR/APNU has also reviewed the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report 2024, finding it lacking in addressing several pressing issues. The report notably omits progress on reducing the food import bill and fails to explain why, despite significant economic growth and high oil revenues, ordinary Guyanese are not seeing commensurate improvements in their income, it said.
Additional criticisms include the government’s inadequate response to inflation which many citizens believe has substantially exceeded the reported 4%. Furthermore, the Mid-Year Report’s discussion on manpower studies was criticized for lacking transparency and detail, leaving many to question the validity of employment claims and the effectiveness of labor market policies.
Overall, the Mid-Year Report highlights a disconnect between economic growth and tangible benefits for the average Guyanese, PNCR/APNU said. With ongoing challenges in infrastructure, corruption, and planning, the PPP/C’s governance was called into question.
