GUYANA  Power and Light Inc. (GPL), yesterday, launched their Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) National School Debating and Spelling Bee Competition at Regency Suites Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, in an effort to impact an attitude of change in the efficient use of electricity among children.

On hand to deliver keynote remarks was acting Chief Education Officer (Primary Schools) Mr. Marcel Hutson, who lauded GPL for the initiative in fostering the development of education for schoolchildren.

He noted that the workshop which is to be conducted after the official launching ceremony would be   beneficial for both educators and pupils and urged the participants to gather as much information which will ultimately promote education.
Hutson stated that the literacy drive initiated by GPL is a commendable one as the education system is always seeking change for progress in which it equips children at different stages in school and at the university level to become contributors to society.
He pointed out that the Spelling Bee and Debating Competition would aid in the learning process in which children can spell words properly and also make a connection with reading. There is a correlation and a  recipe for higher learning, he added.

Meanwhile, GPL’s Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, giving an overview of the GPL/IDB Network Rehabilitation project, said yesterday that Guyana, as a developing country, “need not waste electricity since the provision of electricity is very costly.”

GPL IMPROVING DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
He explained that during the delivery of electricity to customers, they record significant losses and they want to minimise that as much as possible. Dindyal added that the power company is improving its distribution network and with this objective they are constructing seven new sub-stations and making modifications to three existing ones for power generation.
He explained that during low voltage they suffer losses and they have to reduce the electricity distribution to customers and so they are constructing more sub-stations for improved distribution in the network in which high resistance lines are being installed.

Dindyal told the gathering, yesterday, that with all the projects being undertaken by GPL, such as the Improved Customer Service, Infrastructure Development Project, Network Rehabilitation Programme, Frequency Conversion and Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the power company decided to target children so that they can effect research which will lead them to read for the Debating and Spelling Bee Competition.
He also highlighted tips on energy conservation in the home and emphasised that all appliances not in use should be turned off and unplugged to sensibly reduce electricity consumption which will eventually be reflected in the bill.
Dindyal said that with regard to the GPL developmental projects, they have visited the communities and held outreaches with the residents to sensitise them on what is being done, and he highlighted the role that the IDB has been playing to improve service for customers.
And in an overview of GPL/IDB Social Management Programme, the Programme Manager/Divisional Director/Loss Reduction Kumar Sharma said GPL acquired a loan through IDB for upgrading the way they distribute electricity to minimise loss reduction and the idea of the debating/spelling bee competition was conceptualised to highlight awareness through the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP).
He stated that in the areas where they are doing rehabilitation works, they have visited the communities and talked with residents in 19 areas from Corriverton, Berbice to West Coast Demerara.
Sharma said that they are replacing the old network for power distribution and residents will experience power outage for such works to take place but they are doing this by a street-by-street phase not to inconvenience customers for lengthy periods. He also spoke of the newer projects being implemented by GPL to improve the service and their efforts for loss reduction.
Also making remarks was GPL Social Management Coordinator Mark Ross and Technical Support Staff/Loss Reduction Manager, John Cush.