Enough of the threats
Editorial
THE electricity sector is in dire need of firm measures to set it right and the Government does not have the funds to do it all by itself. The Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) needs an overseas partner and needs it fast. Guyanese know from sad first hand experience how punishing persistent blackouts can be because they lived through it for years and years. And they should not be forced to go through such primitive experiences again. As if as a timely warning of how things stand, the GEC yesterday reported blackout blues have been gathering again in Berbice.] Its East Berbice operation has had two unexpected failures of its mobile Caterpillar units resulting in power cuts for residents in the region. This must be a 20th century nightmare for residents still having to cope with power cuts when they want to watch television or do the hundreds of things they cannot do without electricity. Business people have been among those most badly hurt by an unreliable electricity supply system for too many years in this country and they, and the rest of the nation, saw one deal which was almost about to be concluded, scuttled mainly because of anti-government protests in Georgetown last year. Now the People's National Congress leader is again speaking about threats. We agree fully with those private sector spokesmen who began speaking up for the proposed deal again yesterday. Further delays in getting the privatisation of the GEC settled could set back the country even further. Opposition tactics, mainly from the PNC, have taken toll for more than a year on the country and its people and it is time that civil society begin speaking out against these threats about threats. As the GEC reported yesterday, the power units at Canefield and Number 53 in East Berbice are not getting any better. The electricity sector needs vital capital inputs and there has already been too much delay. "We think it ought to be done as quickly as possible...We think it would be a disaster if this privatisation of GEC is not done," head of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. George Jardim contended. The newly elected PSC boss feels a prolonged delay will send a "bad signal" to the international community about investment in Guyana. Others should also be talking up about the threats. Does the country need the deal or does it not? Or it could move into the new millennium in an era of darkness.
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