GUYANA Power and Light (GPL) has taken issue with an article in yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News that it had plunged City Hall into darkness.
“The Guyana Power and Light Inc. wishes to categorically state that it was not responsible for the disconnection of electricity supply to the Mayor and City Council’s buildings (City Engineer, Mayoral Secretariat and City Constabulary),” a press release from GPL said last evening.
“GPL is gravely disappointed in the unsubstantiated assertions of His Worship the Mayor as reported in the press that GPL disconnected City Hall and has refused to pay its predecessor GEC’s Rates and Taxes.
“The Company’s investigation today (yesterday) discovered that the outage was as a result of a burnt change over switch installed by the Georgetown City Council, for which they are solely responsible.
“For public information GPL’s policy is to disconnect consumer’s electricity in arrears on Monday through Friday only; we do not disconnect electricity supply on Saturdays, Sundays and on any public holiday. The Mayor’s allegation that GPL disconnected M&CC supply on Sunday is contrary to GPL’s policy and is blatantly incorrect.
“In December of 2009, GPL, pursuant to an agreement made with the Council for an exchange of cheques, issued and paid a cheque in the sum of $179,496,876, which fully settled GPL’s and GEC’s Rates and Taxes at December 2009, as well as all outstanding GEC’s obligations to the M&CC.
“The GPL finds the Mayor’s allegation disappointing, especially given the facts that both entities have been trying to resolve their issues amicably,” the GPL release concluded.