… Canadian investors answer President’s call

By Vanessa Braithwaite
A GROUP of Canadian investors will be having several engagements with ministers on their imminent establishment of a solar energy company in Guyana.The investors were encouraged to invest in Guyana by President Granger during his visit to Canada while campaigning and they have taken up the mandate to do so.
These businessmen who are holders of executive positions in a Canada-based company, Greenheart Tree Energy, shared their proposal with President Granger who sent ministers to Canada to have further engagements on their proposition, as he found it beneficial to his vision of a green Guyana.
The investors’ focus is on solar energy and establishing solar farms to generate a cheaper alternative for energy, thus reducing the amount of energy used to generate electricity. These farms will provide energy to communities as well as for commercial and domestic uses.
The entrepreneurs are also interested in setting up a component factory in Guyana, with the intent of providing jobs for Guyanese. In addition to this, Greenheart Tree Energy will be establishing an institution to train persons in solar technology.
The investors met with Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson. The team was also due to meet with Colin Welch, the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to ascertain the energy space and industrial solutions as they commence the process of bidding for those solar energy projects.
“We are here, we are serious and we are here to stay, said CEO of Greenheart Tree, Esmonde Klass, a former Queen’s College alumnus.
The company has recorded several success stories from their investments around the world – especially the United States, Poland and Kuwait. They are very optimistic of the success that will be derived from this investment and are excited to commence operations.
“This is a beautiful country with fantastic people and a new government, so we are optimistic about our business venture here, since it is already a way of life for many nations,” posited Procurement Officer Tom Krupa. Being cognisant of the high electricity rate that Guyanese have to pay, Greenheart Tree Energy executives are confident that they will provide an alternative solution to the populace that will be cost-effective.
This alternative will also be contributing to a green economy, which is one of the reasons the President has displayed interest in this investment and will give the company his support as promised in Canada.