Dear Editor,
Much is being said about Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project (AFHP) over the years. But not enough meaningful information is in the Public Domain. For starters, what is the rationale of building AFHP? I understand that Guyanese need cheap, reliable electricity. AFHP (may) be able to provide cheap electricity but it will not be reliable because of transmission and distribution problems in Guyana. Will manufacturing will take-off with cheap electricity from AFHP? Guyana already have cheap labour and manufacturing has not taken-off.
The approach to building AFHP seems to be the same approach that the PPP/C Government of Guyana used in building the Skeldon Sugar Factory which never lived up to expectations and cost Guyanese hundreds of millions of US dollars. That is, wishy-washy. There is no profound analysis, no meaningful Public Consultations, no unifying cause. This is because there is no clear objective in building AFHP in mind other than wanting to leave a legacy. The AFHP needs to be revisited given its high cost factor of providing electricity to Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Sean Ori
