THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the Parliamentary opposition to let good sense prevail in connection with the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) by supporting the project in the National Assembly.

Addressing a press briefing at Freedom House in Georgetown yesterday, party Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, said the party wishes to again underline its support for the realisation of the project. This is in light of the impending Parliamentary deliberations on two critical pieces of legislation to advance Guyana’s goal of attaining self-sufficiency in the energy sector, specifically in the area of renewable energy, Mustapha said.
Before Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Media Coordinator Mahendra Roopnarine, Mustapha said the project is in keeping with government’s manifesto promise to the Guyanese people to provide reliable, lower-cost electricity to citizens.
“This will, no doubt, bring measured relief to all, particularly the poor. It will also spur on economic growth in several sectors, particularly manufacturing; ultimately creating more jobs and contributing to increased competition for our labour force, thereby improving benefits for the working class. Against this backdrop, it is easy to understand why such a project should be placed as a national priority; and, as such, every effort must be made towards its realisation.
“In this regard, the amendment to the Hydro Electric Act and a motion to increase the debt ceiling will both directly impact this project,” Mustapha said.
He said it is therefore cause for concern that one of the opposition political parties has already signalled its intention not to support the amendments when they are presented in the National Assembly. This, he said, is despite the many publicized efforts by government to engage the political opposition on this project.
“Such irresponsible actions, no doubt, send mixed signals to the other stakeholders in this project; including the financiers and potential financiers, such as the IDB, as to how serious we are as a nation in realising this initiative. The Guyanese people must take note, as surely, anyone that is seriously interested in hydropower to benefit our nation will not operate with such reckless impunity,” Mustapha declared.