In fact, the development and the civility of many societies could be gauged from the quality of customer services available.

Unfortunately, it is an area in which Guyana is still grossly deficient.

While the plague affects many public sector agencies, one of the most troubled entities for decades has been the Guyana Power and Light Co., formerly the Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC).

Despite the change in management, customers complain that they are still being treated with contempt as if they are begging and not paying for the service.

Undoubtedly, since the GPL takeover there has been some improvement in the reliability of power supply and other areas, but it is still a long way off the mark.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of GPL's operations is its billing system, disconnection policy and modus operandi in relation to customer queries and complaints.

Many customers throughout the country, especially those from the West Demerara, have complained bitterly about getting bills already paid months before.

Another concern is that when consumers go to the offices seeking redress to their problems, they are treated with gross disrespect and impoliteness and a simple transaction takes hours in many instances.

Of course the office is often crowded, hot and most unsuitable for customers. The West Demerara office at Pouderoyen is a case in point.

Then there is this eagerness by GPL to disconnect customers, especially small domestic consumers who sometimes owe a couple thousand dollars.

What is worse is that those hired to disconnect customers do not seem to know the basics of courtesy. They barge into people's yards, mount up their ladders, cut the wires and then leave without identifying themselves, explaining their presence and giving the consumers a chance to perhaps explain or clarify their position.

They operate like a law unto themselves and sometimes fail to understand that persons on the defaulters list may have cleared themselves between the time they received the list and their response.

Even more galling is the habit of disconnecting customers while they are not at home.

How could someone be disconnected in his/her absence? This is a total lack of respect for the consumer.

The consumer may have paid the bill but his/her electricity supply is cut off when they are not at home.

The trouble is that when someone is wrongfully disconnected, they are not reconnected with the same swiftness as when disconnected.

These are issues which GPL, the Ministry of Trade, the Public Utilities Commission and the consumers groups need to speedily and comprehensively address.

Such treatment to the consumer is grossly unfair and counter-productive and there must be serious attempts at improvements at this and other entities.

Good service should be the rule rather than the exception.