Cheap energy too important to be political football July 26, 2013 | By KNews | Filed Under Letters Dear Editor, The Amaila Falls project is a crucial foundation to improve the lives of ourselves and our children. I continue to welcome and urge cooperation with the Opposition to remove whatever hurdles are placed in our way. However, certain statements made by the opposition to justify their rejection of cheap energy and placing in jeopardy the bright future and basic services which are every Guyanese’s right are simply not true and require addressing. It is not true that Guyana is more indebted now than in 1992. Our economy has grown by an average of five per cent over the last twenty years. Having a larger GDP means having a larger debt carrying capacity; having a larger debt carrying capacity means being able to take on – and finance – bigger projects. Bigger projects mean a bright and better future for all Guyanese. I am sure the Opposition would not advocate shrinking the economy in order to shrink the debt – this is the definition of a false economy. Nor is it true that Guysuco and GPL are burdens on our country. Guysuco employs 18,000 workers and through them supports thousands more families across the country. And this not even accounting for the supporting industries that depend on the sugar industry. The sugar industry makes up a significant percent of our economy and contributes billions over the years to our economy. Does the opposition literally want to cut off the nose of the Guyanese people in order to spite its president? Similarly, GPL produces 700 GWH of energy a year. This is the energy that keeps our lights on, our factories running and our homes welcoming. Like any system it needs upkeep and modernisation. It also needs expansion because there remain significant pockets of our country – many of them far away from the sophisticated urban environments in which many of the Opposition live. Upkeep, modernisation and expansion are some things the current and previous PPP governments have achieved – and crucially without raising the tariffs paid by ordinary Guyanese. Would the Opposition advocate ceasing efforts to reform and modernize our power sector? Do they really want to deny basic services to thousands of Guyanese, many of them our Amerindian brothers and sisters? In this instance, the answer is yes, they do. They may see some short-term gains to be made by disrupting the governance of the country, but on this occasion Amaila Falls is simply too important, too unarguably good for all of us – their children as well as mine and as well as yours – to be to be turned into a political football. Fourthly, it is wholly false to argue that the completion of the IDB’s due diligence would unblock their support for the project. Since the opposition’s shocking rejection of Amaila Falls, the government has been working day-in, day-out to do everything it can to save this crucial project and preserve the prospect of an empowered Guyanese nation. The government is in constant contact with the IDB: THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE UNTIL THE BILLS ARE PASSED. This is not the appropriate forum to get into the details of what is a complicated endeavour for the country. In principle, that should be parliament. But it is important that the reality of the situation be made plain: IDB funding to Amaila Falls requires a government guarantee. This is right and proper. That guarantee requires parliamentary approval. Without that approval there is no guarantee, and there is therefore no Amaila Falls and energy will continue to be a drain on government coffers and the pockets of all Guyanese. We want to put money back in people’s pockets. We want to put the people first. I welcome Mr. Granger’s statement that the bills can be reintroduced to parliament. I ask that Mr. Granger control those in his retinue who persist with painting a false picture of our economy. If he does not it is all of us who will suffer. Dharamkumar Seeraj, MP
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:23:33 +0000
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