– Berbice Manager
GUYANA Power & Light (GPL) has not processed any application for electrification in an unregularised area, said Berbice Manager Ayube Bacchus. He made the disclosure following a protest by just over 20 residents of Angoy’s Avenue, outside the GPL commercial building in New Amsterdam, last Friday morning.
The disgruntled consumers are alleging that the utility is prejudiced in its dealings and highlighted photographs of a house which they claim was recently issued with an electricity meter.
Bacchus informed the Guyana Chronicle that an investigation will be launched to determine the accuracy of the allegations.
“Unless the Angoy’s Avenue area becomes a regularised area, we cannot grant persons there electricity, as it would be a contempt of court. The squatting area co-op society has filed for an injunction, which is still pending,” he informed.
Bacchus said, despite the court order, following the receipt of about fifty applications for supply from residents, he made representation to his superiors with the view that the status may have been changed but the position remained the same.
He said persons who have been benefitting from electricity were issued with the service prior to the injunction.
However, Bacchus, while empathising with the protestors, urged them to influence the co-op society to address the legal issue which would allow them to be beneficiaries of electricity which is a basic need.
“GPL is not the delinquent agency. It is not our business to regularise areas. We try to help the consumer from time to time, but we have to act in the confines of the law. If the area can be regularised tomorrow and the residents have their accepted documentations, we will come immediately and install electricity,” he assured.