GPL restores electricity to all disconnected M&CC buildings
Guyana Chronicle
January 12, 2007
GUYANA Power & Light (GPL) has restored electricity supply to all the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) buildings from which it was cut off.
The restoration, early last week, followed negotiations between the two parties and a press release named the places to benefit as City Hall, Treasurer’s Department, Engineer’s Department, Mayoral Complex, Personnel Department, Public Relations and City Constabulary, all in the same compound, as well as the Abattoir, Maternal and Child Welfare Clinic and South Road Day Care Centre.
The release said discussions are continuing with the aim of finding a workable solution to the problem that would “result in a win-win situation.”
It said the M&CC took this approach in the interest of citizens and its employees because working without electricity was distressing.
“The absence of electricity was extremely traumatic for the staff, especially in areas concerned with critical services, such as security, maternal health and food hygiene. This had far-reaching implications for the work of the council and the city as a whole,” the release said.
Last November, the utility disconnected current from City Hall and several other municipal premises for a debt of $243M.
It caused Mayor Hamilton Green to accuse GPL of being unkind and taking part in a deliberate plan to degrade him.
He claimed GPL owed the council money for rates and taxes on properties and has refused to pay.
But GPL management refuted the claim and said it has no outstanding debt to City Hall.
The release yesterday said, in keeping with the council’s mission and its social responsibility, it started negotiating to restore a sense of normalcy and comfort for its workers.
The statement said the council is happy it can provide a comfortable environment for property owners and others to conduct business.
Meanwhile, arrangements are being finalised for some municipal workers to be paid the other 50 per cent of the money due them by month end.
The employees were to receive a one-off payment with a five per cent increase in December but got only half of their entitlement.
Green explained that, although the council was able to acquire, from the government, an advance in taxes for the first quarter of this year, there were other matters that needed urgent attention as well.
The council thanked workers for their understanding and patience during the critical period.