The APNU has slammed the Government over its decision to give full approval to the Guyana Power and Light Company to sole source a consultancy contract with a Dominican Republic company for US$650,000 per month.

In a statement last evening, APNU Member, Ganesh Mahipaul said the revelation of the staggering consultancy contract is a slap in the face to the Guyanese people.

He said the secretive, bloated arrangement is emblematic of a government more concerned with wasting Guyanese money than empowering local talent or delivering reliable electricity to citizens.

Mahipaul pointed out that the contract will work out to US $7.8 million per year and it was handed out to a single company without competitive tender, without public consultation, and without parliamentary scrutiny.

He said the move by the Government represents poor governance and is an insult to taxpayers, workers, and every Guyanese family struggling with blackouts and high electricity bills.

The Cabinet give its approval for the contract two weeks ago. Mr. Mahipaull said the Government greenlit the deal behind closed doors, rather than face public accountability, adding that there was no transparent procurement process and no opportunity for local or regional firms to compete.

“No independent evaluation of the contract’s necessity or cost. This was governance by executive fiat, not democratic principle. Even worse, the contract places a foreign entity in a position of immense power over GPL’s technical operations, procurement, hiring, and contractor engagement. In essence, we’re being asked to pay tens of millions for a foreign company to run our power sector while sidelining qualified Guyanese engineers and administrators”, the APNU member stated.

The Government made no announcement about the US$650,000 contract with InterEnergy for consultancy services to GPL. However, GPL recently stated that the company’s support was needed as it rolls out new projects.

Mahipaul said a search of the company’s background has found that it has faced criticism in other countries where it operated over a poor track record and under performance.

He said the full terms of the hefty contract are still to be known, promising that under an APNU-led Government, All energy contracts will be subject to open, competitive bidding, with clear evaluation criteria and stakeholder consultation.

He also said an APNU Government would prioritize Guyanese workers and Guyanese companies.

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