LAST week murder of GPL’s security Chief Clifford Peters is a severe loss most of all to his family and relatives and the entire Guyanese nation must offer condolences and support.

But common sense should have prevailed in this particular instance. Mr. Peters should have had a reliable ‘security’ detail (one of the field team) “watching his back”. But that is something GPL will have to sort out. Rhetoric and “I/We told you so” will not bring back this professional’s life.

I recall another first rate GPL professional one Mr. Adams (known as Addie to his associates), a real genuine “roots man”, humble and dedicated who worked tirelessly to bring relief to suffering GPL customers and others who were not connected at the time, during the 1993/94 improvement years.

Then there have been other professionals like the late Ivan Merriman who worked relentlessly to make electricity delivery accessible to the people. This is the bottom line. Examine GPL’s mission statement or peruse the PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper) and there is that unmistakable factor that is evident. The provision of electricity is not a privilege or concession (based on contract) to the people. It is (at least according to the PPP/C Manifesto) a human right. And this is where the contradiction is sharpest. GPL must evolve a comprehensive and not interlocutory approach aimed at deterring by zero tolerance theft of electricity and power.

The risk of criminalizing poor people and undermining community embrace for GPL must be a priority in the same way that illegal connections must be the task of the Loss Reduction section of the corporation.

Mr. Brassington is quite correct when he identified corruption in the present system.
EDDI RODNEY