Friday February 17, 2017
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
Minister David Patterson responds to Juan Edghill DEAR EDITOR; Reference is made to a letter published in February 16, 2017 edition of the Stabroek News, under the headline “Patterson statements on electricity were misleading” and penned by Mr. Juan Edghill, Opposition M.P. The same letter was carried in the Kaieteur News under the caption, “The PPP’s continuing concern about where GPL is being taken.” Reference is also made to an article published on the same date in Kaieteur News under the headline “Opposition warns of US$4M scam with company that replaced Wartsila”, which used the comments made in the aforementioned letter by Mr. Edghill as its foundation. On behalf of the Government of Guyana, I wish to strongly denounce and deem erroneous the statements made by Mr. Edghill on Wartsila’s operations in Guyana. According to Mr. Edghill, he was informed by the former Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. Board, Mr. Winston Brassington,
and former CEO, Mr. Bharrat Dindyal, that the contract between the Government of Guyana and Wartsila was to the tune of approximately US$7.5M per year, or about US$20,500 per day. He further intimated that the new contract with the Power Producer and Distribution Inc. (PPDI) made less financial sense than that of Wartsila’s. However, the figures stated by Mr. Edghill are grossly inaccurate. Below is an accurate breakdown of the amounts paid to Wartsila from 2008 to 2016: Year Contract sum (USD) 2008$6.2M 2009$6.8M 2010$6.7M 2011 $7.8M 2012$7.8M 2013$8.5M 2014$9.5M 2015$9.6M 2016$10M Furthermore, it must be noted that, going forward, Wartsila was proposing an average cost of US$20.51 per megawatt hour. This would have equated to approximately US$13.3M per annum, based upon a consumption of
650,000 megawatts per year. Compare this figure to the proposed fee of US$16.78 megawatts per hour from PPDI. This would equate to savings of US$2.4M, based on the same consumption rate for an enhanced service. With savings of this magnitude, it would be possible to buy a brand new 5.5MW Wartsila engine every three years. Additionally, when it came to spare parts prices, the agreement was that GPL would be charged at a discounted price. However, the records show that GPL was paying the global list prices up until the contract termination with Wartsila. PPDI will be purchasing spares for all parts at equal or better prices. It is certainly an indictment on the previous administration that they were clearly in the dark for years on the amount of monies that was being paid out to Wartsila; Mr. Brassington served as Chairman of the Board from 20102015 while Mr. Dindiyal was CEO in 2015. Yet, neither of them, it would appear, was aware of what was transpir-
ing in regards to Wartsila’s operations. The shift from Wartsila to PDDI is a needed move. Upon its entry into Guyana, Wartsila had no prior successful operations and maintenance of power plants and its management was unwilling to offer any guarantees of its services. It must be emphasized at all times that Wartsila was managed wholly and solely by Guyanese and PPDI intends to maintain this model, coupled with drastic financial savings. In fact, PPDI’s top management comprises of Guyanese with more than 60 years of combined experienced with Wartsila both locally and regionally. Furthermore, I must once again urge that the Opposition takes up its seat on the Board of GPL so that they can be properly informed. The other equally inaccurate matters raised by Mr. Edghill in his letter will be addressed at a later stage in a more appropriate forum. David Patterson Minister of Public Infrastructure
Need to set up tribunal for illegal use of state property DEAR EDITOR, It is welcome news that the current administration is finally moving ahead with some legislation concerning the theft of state cash and property. However I feel that the State has come up short on these issues. To my mind it is going to be very difficult to prosecute offending persons in the established courts. We need to do something much more all-encompassing. We need to set up a permanent tribunal to deal with all matters concerning illegal taking of state property. In China, quite recently a very senior official and his wife were tried by special court and given serious sentences for their parts in a heinous crime. We need to do the same here. I am suggesting the setting up of this tribunal which will comprise three judges (two coming from Caricom and the Commonwealth) and one from Guyana. Their task will be to adjudicate cases
brought before them by the SARA. The prosecutors for this tribunal will be taken from a panel of special prosecutors. These prosecutors will be chosen by the Attorney General and the DPP will have no jurisdiction over their selection or governance. All witnesses summoned before the tribunal will be required to appear and must give evidence. Those who fail to appear must be held in contempt and dealt with according to law. To facilitate witnesses Government must put in place a program of witness protection but this notwithstanding the witnesses will still be required to appear on pain of penalty. Unless Government sends the appropriate messages that it is prepared to deal condignly with both friend and foe in respect of the misappropriation of state assets, nothing m u c h w i l l b e achieved. Cyril Walker
A PLEA FOR NATIONAL... In support of the politics of Tacuma Ogunseye From job creation, likely to enpage 4 DEAR EDITOR; Tacuma Ogunseye is a friend of mine who I've known over the years. OG/ OGUN as we call him has been in the political arena forever; very principled, forthright and passionate in what he believes in. He is never afraid to vehemently defend his position/ point of view. Elder statesman Eusi Kwayana who I think was in some way his mentor and whom he respects and admires tremendously has locked horns with him in defence of his position and equally challenges anyone, as he knows to dialogue in polemics is the way of mature minds. He is not consumed by false pride, a simple and humble individual who is never boastful, one of moral rectitude who is neither a fraud nor a payoff. These are the characteristics 1 know him to possess. If he has abandoned these virtues, I need to be convinced for I will not indulge
in any form of blind defence on behalf of anyone no matter what they may be. There is a point beyond which one ought not to step if one makes claim to being honest and principle. Having said that please allow me to make some observation with regards to this very brother. Not so long I came across letters in the papers whereby he was severely criticized for his position in the APNU/ AFC Coalition and more alarmingly, of all people being accused of betraying Walter Rodney Editor, when I first began reading the criticisms leveled against him, I was looking at them objectively. I even raised and discussed some points with very close comrades. I was very concerned that Ogun was slipping a bit and ought to be very careful, since for too long he has been in the corner of the working class. But even so, if he has been indulging in what is not
seen as ethical and honest , then anyone in public has a bona fide reason to pull him over , something he himself has been doing over the years. But as I followed the gist of the criticism of putting him down, I realized it wasn't just a scorching criticism for some sort of unprincipled and brazen hypocritical conduct; there was something much more sinister as if the writer had an axe to grind. The tone and tenor the writer was designed to present OG as a nonentity, a simpleton to the public. A person with no authenticity, ability or credibility, an impostor who was offered a sinecure as a form of compensation for being a sellout. Let me say that Tacuma Ogunseye has stood the test of time, footprints in the sands of time as one would say. He has been in the trenches, struggled along
with the poor and powerless. He is no ' Jhonny come lately' who beats his chest and blows his own trumpet. And by the way, say what you will, this brother is an intellectual in his own right. Look I'm not saying the brother is infallible but I have faith in him, and as far as I am concern, any amount of gold coins he receives is well deserved-end of story. But let me make myself clear in saying; and I hope that I'm wrong that I have no confidence in the coalition still I will welcome a surprise. Just why some are bent on destroying genuine everyday people really beats me. Why don't they go after the real rogues who don't hide; they are there in the open. I am disappointed that Ogunseye's comrades who know better and can stand on a mountain top and sing his praises are silent as a grave. Frank Fyffe
claims of rigged elections, to suddenly yield to powersharing). To avoid abuse, the power sharing arrangement should come under the oversight of a committee of seasoned intellectuals, including highly respected ex-politicians, judges, and clergy involving the major religions of the country. The benefits of a national unity government can be legion. A bipartisan approach can lead to a drastic improvement of the crime situation, including the scourge of break-in robberies that for too long has been plaguing business owners and posing a disincentive for the many overseas-based Guyanese intent on re-migrating. And, importantly, a surge in the economy is to be expected, with entrepreneurship, both by locals and remigrants, and consequent
sue. It seems clear that for too long, the Guyanese people have been victimized by a brand of politics that spells division as opposed to unity. It’s about time that politicians from both sides of the aisle start deprioritizing party loyalty in favor of working for the good of the people. Enough of the seemingly ad-infinitum bickering and mud-slinging! The Guyanese people deserve nothing less, and would surely welcome the opportunity to rise from the clutches of division bequeathed us by our former rulers. Let’s make national unity our goal and pursue it relentlessly for the good of all Guyanese. Abel Peters