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THE Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) has reiterated its ‘universal position’ that the most critical element of business retardation in Guyana, is crippling energy costs. It is especially on this premise that the association expresses its objection to the increased electricity rates proposed by the power company, GPL. “We also recommend that every effort be made by all stakeholders to resolve the related issues in parliament, which obviously triggered this development,” the GMSA stated.
For some years now, the GMSA said it has been advocating at the highest levels significant reductions in electricity rates. When this failed, the association said it embraced the concept of Energy Efficiency and Consumption Management.
In 2011, the GMSA secured part funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for a far-reaching Energy Efficiency project which was designed specifically to sensitise business owners to the most effective means of reducing energy consumption over the long term in order to save energy costs in their homes and business places.
It said the first phase of the project, the Energy Efficiency Survey, was recently completed and a comprehensive Energy Audit will commence within the next few days. The entire nation stands to benefit in the short term from this project when the broad-based national standards for energy efficiency are created.
“This recent announcement by the GPL of its intention to increase electricity tariffs by 26.7 percent is not only unconscionable, but it has strong potential to literally demolish some enterprises, or at the very least, stymie the growth of the entire manufacturing and commercial sectors in Guyana,” the GMSA stated.
“It will make Guyana’s manufactured products even more uncompetitive on the export market due to higher production costs, and would definitely erase the gains that manufacturers have made to better manage their power supply and consumption,” it added.
The GMSA said it can in no way support GPL’s proposal to increase electricity tariffs now or at any time in the foreseeable future. Instead, the GMSA strongly suggests that the power company continue to explore the ways and means that could make their operations more efficient, which would necessarily reduce their own costs.
“In the same vein, we take this opportunity to urge the stakeholders in parliament to continue to work towards amicably resolving all the current contentious issues for the good of the people of this nation,” the GMSA urged.
For some years now, the GMSA said it has been advocating at the highest levels significant reductions in electricity rates. When this failed, the association said it embraced the concept of Energy Efficiency and Consumption Management.
In 2011, the GMSA secured part funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for a far-reaching Energy Efficiency project which was designed specifically to sensitise business owners to the most effective means of reducing energy consumption over the long term in order to save energy costs in their homes and business places.
It said the first phase of the project, the Energy Efficiency Survey, was recently completed and a comprehensive Energy Audit will commence within the next few days. The entire nation stands to benefit in the short term from this project when the broad-based national standards for energy efficiency are created.
“This recent announcement by the GPL of its intention to increase electricity tariffs by 26.7 percent is not only unconscionable, but it has strong potential to literally demolish some enterprises, or at the very least, stymie the growth of the entire manufacturing and commercial sectors in Guyana,” the GMSA stated.
“It will make Guyana’s manufactured products even more uncompetitive on the export market due to higher production costs, and would definitely erase the gains that manufacturers have made to better manage their power supply and consumption,” it added.
The GMSA said it can in no way support GPL’s proposal to increase electricity tariffs now or at any time in the foreseeable future. Instead, the GMSA strongly suggests that the power company continue to explore the ways and means that could make their operations more efficient, which would necessarily reduce their own costs.
“In the same vein, we take this opportunity to urge the stakeholders in parliament to continue to work towards amicably resolving all the current contentious issues for the good of the people of this nation,” the GMSA urged.
