GUYANA has always had problems with adequate power supply. These problems, even now, seem insurmountable. So when I actually learned that all of this may soon change, I was quite overwhelmed. These days, ‘things’ are not as bad as they used to be. Guyana still experiences ‘load shedding’ but the duration and frequency are quite livable. This good news about a possible turn around within the electricity sector came my way when I read in the press, that “Guyana signed a US$ 5M IDB electricity loan.” This occurring when President Jagdeo and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh met the IDB President, Luis Alberto Moreno during their Heads of Government, Washington DC visit. At the meeting, President Jagdeo acknowledged the outstanding role played by the IDB, over the years, in supporting Guyana’s development efforts, in various sectors.
The US$ 5 million loan agreement is titled “Sustainable Operation of the Electricity Sector and Improved Quality of Service”. This project aims to boost the efficiency of Guyana’s power system, through ‘electricity loss reduction measures’ and other improvements in the operation and maintenance of the distribution network. More specifically, the project will rehabilitate a portion of the distribution network and continue a series of commercial loss-reduction actions. At the same time, the loan will cater for the financing of capacity building and energy conservation activities. This new loan follows other investments within the electricity sector that the IDB has ventured into, namely the US$ 21.2 million “Unserved Areas Electrification Programme.” However, procuring the loan, and even accomplishing its pre-set goals are not enough to revamp ‘power’ in Guyana. The citizens must play their part.
It does not matter what the government does (and a lot has been done over the last few years), persons must be responsible. Recently, there have been a few deaths via electrocution. Almost all the cases were traced to ‘electricity thefts.’ So it is very crucial that this practice come to an immediate end. It is too common and established, and it will take some effort and time to be eradicated, but it should never be left untended. Then there is the drive to have a metered system. This means that bill problems will dissipate quickly, so long as consumers comply. It will also help persons monitor the use of electricity. It is the same drive that GWI (Guyana Water INC.) is on at the moment, where water is concerned. When users know that ‘things’ are never free it changes their mindset. They learn that ‘privileges’ and ‘responsibilities’ go together. Editor, I am even concerned about the many village street lights that are left ‘burning’ all day. Power is expensive and must be conserved. I hope GPL enforces all the right laws and puts all the possible and correct measures in place, so that Guyana will be better and more responsibly lit up.