Opposition Parliamentarians may opt out of GEC debate
by Terrence Esseboom
GOVERNMENT Parliamentarians may be forced to debate the Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA) and the Public Utilities Commission Act (PUCA) by themselves Thursday when the National Assembly meets. Alliance For Guyana (AFG) Leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told the Chronicle yesterday that it is absurd to discuss the two key pieces of legislation on the capitalisation of the Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC), if they are hidden from opposition parties. The People's National Congress (PNC), The United Force (TUF) and the AFG, walked out of Saturday's meeting with Prime Minister Sam Hinds, after he failed to provide the Licence, Agreement, Five-year Development and Expansion Programme and the Shareholders Agreement on the deal with the merger Commonwealth Development Corporation and Electricity Sector Board International of Ireland (CDC/ESBI). Mr Hinds had earlier promised to make the five documents available to the political parties under strict terms of confidentiality. However, at Saturday's caucus, the Acting President informed them that he had "over-stepped his bounds" when he gave that commitment. The meeting ended abruptly. Dr Roopnaraine said the parties are to meet ahead of Thursday's sitting to decide on a common strategy in light of the new developments. He said there are 25 clauses in the licence concealed from them. "What's the purpose of secrecy when no competitor is in sight?" Roopnaraine asked rhetorically. In an interview on the issue Saturday, Mr Hinds explained that the administration is cautious, fearing its critics will misrepresent some aspects of the deal with the CDC/ESBI. "...the Government is afraid that releasing the documents will provide (opposition political parties and other interest groups with) the possibilities for exploitation," of non-essential components of the transaction, said Mr Hinds, who holds the portfolio for the electricity sector said. He said too, that "...expediency...restrains us from making them available at this time. The longer it takes to get it done there will be significant changes in the environment and reality which (will) demand review of the covenant". The Acting President said that after the deal is closed, the agreements will be tabled in the National Assembly. The deal is to be wrapped soon. The foreign merger, with a US$23.45M bid, secured the contract for the capitalisation of the ailing GEC. Thursday's scheduled meeting is "an abuse of Parliament" Roopnaraine complained.
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