By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
Former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson is shining a spotlight on the persistent blackouts plaguing Guyana, accusing Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) of mismanagement and incompetence, and calling on the government to do more than offer excuses.
Speaking at a recent press conference hosted by the Alliance for Change (AFC), Patterson—who also serves as the Chairperson of the AFC—did not hold back. He criticized the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government for what he called a “running joke” of excuses, despite billions in subsidies allocated to GPL over the last two years.
“The government gave GPL $16 billion last year—and $18 billion this year. Yet, the daily blackouts continue,” Patterson said, referring to the GY$34 billion total funding approved in two consecutive national budgets.
Despite these hefty financial injections, Patterson noted, power generation shortfalls, technical failures, and poor management remain widespread, while GPL’s economic and commercial losses have soared to over 30%.
He further argued that the government’s much-touted Wales Gas-to-Energy Project, while significant, is not a short-term fix for the crippling power outages facing residents and businesses across Guyana.
“The gas-to-shore project won’t solve the blackouts we’re facing now,” Patterson stressed.
The AFC Chair also pointed to the CarPowerShip deal—a temporary fix brought in from Turkey to provide 60 megawatts to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). The first power ship docked last year to deliver 36 megawatts, but according to Patterson, it encountered technical issues, raising questions about its long-term sustainability.
Additionally, GPL had signed major agreements in April 2024 with Kalpataru and PowerChina, worth over US$422 million, to expand transmission infrastructure ahead of the future 300-megawatt gas-to-energy power plant. But according to Patterson, the core problems in power distribution and system design remain unaddressed.
“Every single day, the country is faced with blackouts,” he said bluntly.
The AFC is now demanding urgent and transparent reforms within GPL to ensure Guyanese are not left in the dark—literally and figuratively.
