Welch not leaving to facilitate GPL probe

– Patterson says board will decide way forward

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Colin Welch will remain on the job while an investigation into allegations against him pertaining to the importation of meters is being undertaken

“I have not found it necessary to move him until that investigation is completed and if you are trying to say that he is impeding the investigation, that is not happening,” Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said yesterday.

Speaking at his ministry’s end-of-year press conference Patterson said that when the probe is completed the report will be handed to the GPL Board of Directors and they will ascertain if further action should be taken. As such, he said, at this stage of the investigation he did not believe Welch being on the job will in any way impede it.

Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) had slammed government for its “cavalier” treatment of allegations against the interim GPL chief saying that he should be sent on leave to facilitate an investigation.

Colin Welch
Colin Welch

When contacted by Stabroek News, Welch had said that he had not heard of TIGI and what it did and he would not be responding to questions from Stabroek News in relation to reports in the Kaieteur News. “I am going to simplify this matter to you. That entire communication is a total fabrication, that is baseless…It is a total fabrication, someone made it up,” he had stated.

In a statement pointing out that Welch had been implicated in irregularities involving the procurement of prepaid meters worth US$4 million by GPL, TIGI urged that he be sent on leave to facilitate an investigation.

The complaint against Welch alleged that he was in communication with the bidder and supplier of the meters, Tesco PLC, a British firm and Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited of China respectively urging them to supply false information.

TIGI said that given the standard set for officials against whom allegations are made, the same should apply to Welch.

“Under the new government, senior officials have been sent on leave, in many cases without conformance to due process, on which TIGI has voiced its disapproval in the past. This is as good a case as any, for the individual to be sent on leave to facilitate an investigation but instead the public is being told that the future of Welch with the power company will be determined by the new Board,” TIGI declared.

TIGI pointed out that it expects consistency from the government and placed on record, the body’s grave concern at the lack of urgency being demonstrated.

Patterson said that when the investigation, being conducted by personnel of his ministry, is completed he would not be opposed to it being released to the public. “My personal preference for everything is always open and transparent. I will give it to them and as long as they have time to review it I will ask them to release not only this but any other matter,” he asserted.

Meanwhile GPL sought to allay the public’s concern over an advertisement which states that persons whose power is cut for non-payment will have pay to a deposit of six times their estimated bill along with paying off their current bill and a reconnection fee in order to be placed back on the grid.

“It has been a longstanding policy,” Welch said when questioned by Stabroek News on the ad.

He pointed out that the fact that a person cannot afford to pay their bill should not be reason that any of the company’s policies being slackened, adding, “Energy consumed is energy consumed.” But he went on to explain that the policy is only applicable to customers who have been caught stealing power.

Patterson said GPL was mindful and “sensitive” to the issue and that the public should not be scared into thinking it’s a hardline policy that will be enforced soon.