Dear Editor,

The power of the media once again manifested itself last week after my letters about the blackout crisis in Berbice were published in both the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News. The Guyana Chronicle and the Guyana Times did not publish the letter. I can only assume as to why they did not.

The situation in Berbice has improved significantly over the weekend and one can only ask the question as to how long this would last. It now seems that electricity in the homes of Berbicians has now become a luxury.

The General Manager of GPL operations in Berbice one Mr Allen appeared on TV on Friday afternoon along with the CEO of GPL Mr Bharrat Dindyal in what was an hour-long live call-in programme about the crisis. I swear to God that I had never seen this Mr Allen before in my entire life on TV much less on a live call-in programme interfacing with the public. The CEO in more than one way chided the GPL Berbice management for being deficient in their public relations skills and letting Berbicians be aware of what’s happening in the electricity sector even during the blackout crisis.

One of my sources indicated to me that the GPL CEO literally sat the entire day Friday to see that work was done to bring the Number 4 Generator back to life. Just imagine, GPL already has a ‘capable’ manager in Berbice and yet Georgetown personnel have to come and see that things are being done and liaise with Berbicians on a TV programme.  And Mr Prime Minister—you are as inefficient as they come in your portfolio as Minister responsible for electricity. Your words in last Saturday’s Stabroek News were too little too late.

One other startling revelation was made on the programme. Mr Allen stated that GPL regularly liaises with the general public through the Chairmen of the Neighbour-hood Democratic Councils (NDC’s) across Berbice. There are over 10 NDC’s across East Berbice. He said this meeting happens once per month. I was amazed to know of this. What or better yet, who are these NDC Chairmen representing?

What issues are being raised with the GPL manager on a monthly basis? These meetings should be kept with members of the community and not NDC Chairmen because many of the NDC’s across East Berbice have come under fire on multiple occasions by the Regional Administration of Region Six because they are not performing effectively.

Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran