-PM tells Parliament By Mark McGowan
From November 5, there should be a return to normalcy in the country’s electricity supply Prime Minister Sam Hinds told the National Assembly last evening.
Hinds, the minister with oversight for the energy sector, gave this assurance while debating a motion on the state of the energy supply, after Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran approved an application by Opposition Leader Robert Corbin.
Corbin requested of the Speaker “leave to move the adjournment of the Assembly to discuss an urgent matter of public importance; the present untenable and deplorable situation in the supply of electricity by GPL to consumers.” He called “upon the Minister responsible to provide an adequate and credible explanation …on the true state of affairs in the sector so that they (Guyanese) can plan their daily lives in an atmosphere where information is available to them.”
The Opposition Leader noted that the irregular power supply over the last few weeks was an issue of “national importance” since it affected all Guyanese both at the domestic and business level. He stated that the irregular power supply damages sensitive equipment and also pointed out that extended periods of blackouts leads to food being spoilt causing a financial burden on many Guyanese. Corbin further stated that the current state with the electricity supply is believed to be the cause of several electrical fires including last’s Friday’s inferno on Regent Street which destroyed three businesses and a house.
Corbin stated that since the PPP/C administration came to power it has failed to adequately improve the electricity supply in the country. According to him, this failure has come inspite of the administration being provided with several clear guidelines as to what was necessary for improvements in this sector. Corbin said that the PNC administration already had a plan and had started initiatives to implement aspects of this plan prior to its departure from office in 1992.
Commenting on the recent spate of black outs, the Opposition Leader said that it made a mockery of the PPP/C’s manifesto at the 2006 elections when it promised significant improvements in the electricity sector. Corbin also noted that there have been increases in tariffs while the electricity supply was still not much improved.
He called on Hinds to advise the nation as to what exactly is the problem with the electricity supply and when exactly can they see improvements.
In response, Hinds noted that over the years, the government has undertaken several initiatives to improve the electricity supply even though there had been notable constraints. He noted that there had been a vast improvement in the quality of the electricity supply from 1994 until recently.
Providing statistics, Hinds noted that in January 2008, there was an average of 5 to 10 interruptions per month which resulted in an average of 8 to 15 hours of blackouts per month. He further noted that in the period from August to September of this year, power interruptions had increased to 15 to 16 per month at an average of 24 hours per month.
Hinds noted that while the government recognized the need for upgraded generation and for improved transmission there were always financial constraints. He also said that the power company had been faced with the steady increase in demand for electricity in the country.
The Prime Minister explained that part of the reason for the current blackout situation is because work is ongoing on building the new transmission line from the new power station in Kingston to Sophia. He said that this exercise should be completed by Monday.
Hinds said that he was “asking for just a little more patience” and expressed his optimism that in the next two to three weeks the situation will be better. He said that in the meantime he has asked GPL to ensure that the power outages are scheduled ones so that there is more reliability in the power supply.
Meanwhile, at yesterday’s sitting the National Assembly approved a motion that will see the country’s ratification of the Constitutive Treaty of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) as well as the country’s Accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The House also approved a motion to deploy a total of 90 ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to Trinidad to serve at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will be held from November 21 to 30.
The PNCR-1G was the only Opposition party present at yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly, with members of both the AFC and GAP/ROAR being absent.
It was a silly mistake for the AFC to boycott the National Assembly as reported in yesterday’s press release.
Mr Corben has clearly shown how, although not being in power, the opposition can bring pressure to bear on the government to get positive results.
The PNC is quite right to insist that 17 years after emancipation, the power outage situation in Guyana should be better able to serve its citizens. Let us now hope that Mr Hinds can deliver on what he has promised.
Satish: “Emancipation” is a word associated with the freeing of my ancestors from the most evil system of tyranny practised against a race of people. To use this term to describe the end of P.N.C. rule is to diminish their struggles for survival and equate it with food shortages and bad governance. I have noticed for some time now a deliberate obscene attempt to minimize slavery and the slave trade and establish an equivalence with indentureship. Bisram tried this with the hideous contention that there were similarities. This is contemptible and must be shot down at every attempt of the rearing of its ugly head. We will not allow black suffering to be watered down by revisionists.
I am correct when I say that Brown and Black gained emancipation from Dictator Burnham, BORAPORK
Check your meanings at:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/emancipate?qsrc=2446
Corbin has shown what? you are out of your mind as I always said corbin and the PNC are the best assets the PPP have.
The games are over saltfish, we are not buying the ppp nonsense and the dictatorship anymore.
Tell SAM Hinds to stop squatting in the PPP’s seat in parliament.
You cannot have your cake and eat it. Communists!
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Brother Bob Marley
Satish. Stop trying to defy logic. The word EMANCIPATION is associated with the freeing of African slaves. To put it simply, the word EMANCIPATION has reverence to Black People. So stop trying to disrespect my people and our ancestors. Let’s respect each other.
water down, trace the origin where it started from, unto this day it’s still happening.
APART FROM THOSE WHO LOVE TO PRATTLE….HOW MANY OF YOU BLOGGING HERE IS ACTUALLY BEING AFFECTED FROM THE BLACKOUTS IN GUYANA…..DIRECTLY????!!!!!!!!!
SandHurst First
it affect me…..i went to make a bet and boom black out…cant get meh bet in…de harse win…i loose…..
stap now….
Evil eyes, i said “APART FROM THOSE WHO LOVE TO PRATTLE”!!!!!!!!!!!
“return to normalcy”. Does this mean no blackouts at all (and no brownouts), except for those caused by truly natural diasters and natural accidents?
normalcy most likely means back to the normal blackouts we had before the surge in recent blackouts. All the same, we will still get frequent blackouts. Govt is always making excuses for its poor performance. And yes Mr. PM, of course energy demand will go up if govt wants to erect more housing schemes, but refuse to expand the energy infrastructure. I guess common sense is not so common these days.
normal means prior 1992. so no one can complain.
I like that, freespeech, I like that. 28 = 11 + 17. Star! Full marks, boy!
Mr Prime minister how long now you was saying this o the power will get back to normal ,but to date no change so stop the popaganda that you people love to spread an take us guyanese like fools we are not .
“From November 5, there should be a return to normalcy in the country’s electricity supply Prime Minister Sam Hinds told the National Assembly last evening.”
A definite and truly declarative statement does not contain “should”. This man has failed in his responsibility and must be replaced. The people are frustrated at the ineptitude of this government and in 2011 must move from displeasure to concrete action of turfing them out.
HEAR HEAR , Borapork , well said . Normalcy means regular power outages will continue .
Bora, Sam Hinds is a technocrat and not a politician, and since he was drafted by Cheddi Jagan as a running mate, he has seen his role diminished under Jagdeo as Jagdeo’s became the embodiment of the government. What Sam is doing here is being made the face of the GPL problem; when people look at Sam they must equate him with the blackouts! How ironic that on October 5, 1992, the PPP regained power and on November 5, 2009, the PPP plans to return electric power to the people after more than 30 years of intermittent load-shedding. I wonder on the 5th of what month real power will be returned to the people? :-(
Folks,,,look at Wiggins comment and tell me if he should not be the Prime Minister of Barbados,,,Barbados may even be too slow for him…
how good can it be when they are going after a dead man for .05cents. economy baaaddddddddddddd
Toy soldier, “Folks look at wiggins…..”
Do not try to refocus the issue, wiggins has nothing to do with it.
The issue is 17 years and basic things are not in place, what are you waiting for, the coming of christ.
Dont be using the old manipulative trick, this is awe business, he has no right in it. Wiggin can pronounce for he is seening the injustices and wrongdoings metted out daily by an Italian like family.
actually my thoughts on the subject b/pork, the word `should’ makes me believe the pm is just quessing his way out of a bad situation he finds himself in, obviously sam blinds was given a statement by his peers on what to say in parlament.
Soldier , you and the PPP minions can fool some of the people all of the time ; all of the people some of the time but you all cannot fool all of the people all of the time .
Tin soldier , my comment was showing solidarity with what borapork had posted on the issue but the inept PPP govt can continue to destroy Guyana , socio-economically . Tin soldier , are you saying that the role of bajans is only to accommodate illegal immigrants ????
I notice, Wiggins that you are coming on to this GUYANA website constantly carping on about illegals in BARBADOS.
Do you not think your time would be better spent in this respect with lobbying the failures in your Barbados Government abilities in ejecting illegals?
I for one would not accept you being illegal in Guyana, for example.
Blinking and Winking
Winking and Blinking
Folks it will be normal as of the 5th nov….
coz winking blinking blinking winking is the norm….
Of course it will be business as usual the PPP and Burnham/Jagdoe Constitution will ensure that.
e-e, you forgot tp include killing and bu’ning down.
I guess normalcy for guyana means, you will only get blackout out once a day and not two or three times a day.
From Nov.5 the power will return to the normal 4/2h blackouts per day so until then it’s winking and blinking coz “one -one blackout nah nuttin”.
The system was due to return to normalcy since 1992!The goodly gentleman has lost credibility but refuses to admit that he is part of the worst nightmare for governance that Guyana has ever experienced!
When will it get better than what is normal?
“Normalcy” in this sense is a sophism.
If this normalcy is gauged by the last 15/20 years of erratic, irregular and inadequate supply, then we are in no better shape come Nov/05.
What we want come TODAY is an even, consistent and dependable supply of electricity.
Imagine the cost in damages to equipment and property, in perishable goods, in lost man-power etc. over those past years!