Dear Editor,
The mission of the Guyana Power and Light Inc is to “provide reliable, affordable and quality energy services to all its customers.” Given the recent frequent power outages, almost on a daily basis, and a management crisis the company is facing, many are questioning whether the company is equipped to carry out its vision as stipulated on the company’s website as “a world class utility service provider.” The company is currently devoid of leadership and rudderless given the absence of a chief executive officer (CEO) and deputy chief executive officer (DCEO-technical).
The incumbent CEO hasn’t worked at GPL for more than a year due to illness and it is alleged that he is still receiving a full compensation package in excess of GUY$6m per month (US$30,000). While illness is something that is unforeseen and respected, it would be prudent that the office holder step down and allow for a transition of new leadership in the interest of the company to carry out its mandate. It would be a noticeable blunder to have an ailing office holder holding unto the reins while the ship is wandering aimlessly and sinking. The plot thickens as the Deputy CEO (Technical) and personal friend of the President was recently relieved of duty for allegedly pulling a gun on his driver. He had blamed his driver for spilling the beans on his extra marital affair with a side-chick even though the wife tracked and confronted the rendezvousing couple at a hotel in Barbados. As with public office holders, higher standards of decorum and morality is expected, but this seems to consistently evade this leadership in government and associate institutions.
Notwithstanding, the deficit of these officeholders and negligent attitudes towards the effective governance of the company, the temporary replacements have been far from desirable. It is alleged that the director of operations, who is now de facto acting Deputy CEO (Technical) faked his credentials by indicating that he has an engineering degree from the University of Guyana, which has no corroborating record to support his claim. The current acting CEO has acted previously and seems to have a track record and rapport to make him an ideal candidate for the position. However, it is rumored that the newly appointed CEO of the Guyana Power and Light Inc would be the current Attorney General’s brother who is an accountant in Canada with no prior power utility experience, let alone to sit at the helm, in support of the friends and family mantra of the government.
In order for the company to deliver effectively, it has to address the void in leadership. Critically, the company’s Development and Expansion Plan, which governs the strategic direction over the next 5 years, makes limited reference regarding the 300MW natural gas power plant scheduled to be operational by 2024. First, this schedule is very unrealistic given the lead-times required for the necessary equipment to arrive in Guyana. According to the original equipment manufacturers (OEM), there is a 2-year required lead-time. In essence, all the equipment would not be in Guyana until early 2025, at best, and would still have to undergo construction, testing and commissioning. That puts the production date in early 2026 at best. We now have to sit-back and observe the nonsensical excuses the government will invent to appease the population given that is the major selling point for the 2025 election. The Development and Expansion Plan is key to understanding the company’s strategic direction, power utilization, customer care-abouts and how policies can be implemented to curb waste and loss reduction due to theft (more to come on this issue).
In conclusion, we all have heard of tragic customer experiences and complaints, slothful billing inquiries, unforeseen disconnections, unhurried reconnections and a non-intuitive new service application process. It is unimaginable that given the oil and gas boom and the gas to shore project, Guyana continues to be deficient for an extended period of time in this sector. This deficient institution can alleviate the public fears of its current state and offer a roadmap for its future of power generation in the world’s fastest growing economy. Sadly, we can only be assured of the ceremonious ribbon cutting by the prime minister in charge of this sector. If a survey were to be done today, most Guyanese people would not have wonderful things to say about the Guyana Power and Light company, and by extension, the prime minister and current state of affairs of the government as it relates to this issue. This should serve as a starting point for the new leadership of the company to build confidence in a substandard institution they would be inheriting.
Yours Sincerely,
Collin Haynes MPH MBA
