– Govt. contemplates foreign managementThe head of the State-owned power company has been asked to leave as a major shakeup of that entity continues.Yesterday afternoon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat Dindyal,Nike Men Air Max 97 For Sale, was handed a letter telling him that he could leave from today. His contract had reportedly expired.Dindyal, a trained electrical engineer who has been with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) for almost 26 years,China Jerseys, had signaled his intentions since January to former Prime Minister,Cheap Nike Air Max 1, Samuel Hinds,Cheap Authentic NFL Jersey, that he wanted to leave at the end of June.However, the new Government did not take a decision with no one named to take over the helm of the power company.The situation changed after an incident last week in which Dindyal’s deputy, Colin Welch, who heads up Operations, clashed with him at the GPL’s Loss Reduction Office on Sheriff Street.Welch had reportedly gone there with police to send home two senior managers, amidst an investigation of possible wrongdoing.Staffers called the CEO who arrived and clashed with Welch. Dindyal insisted that Welch was unauthorized to send home staffers. Rather this fell on the Human Resources Department or the CEO. Dindyal told the staffers to stay put.An embarrassing video of the clash between the two was recorded and uploaded in the social media, in which cursing was heard. Welch was accused of being a fraud.Former CEO, Bharat DindyalStunned staffers watched as the scene unfolded last Friday. Dindyal was heard telling Welch during the confrontation to have the (expletive) Minister call him.The Minister in question is said to be David Patterson, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, who is charged with responsibility of the electricity sector.The video was reportedly reviewed by Government officials yesterday.Dindyal in a telephone conversation late yesterday confirmed that he was given a letter telling him that he could leave today.SEVERE PRESSUREGPL itself has been under severe pressure not only with the blackouts but with its role in the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.Under the direction of the previous administration, the company was set to buy power from the hydro project, paying more than US$100M annually over a 20-year period.However, an assessment by the new Government found that GPL had little or no capacity to handle hydro power. Loss of power from theft and technical issues have been about one-third of what is generated – not an insignificant amount by any means.GPL had been struggling to reduce the losses,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, with the new Government this week saying that large companies caught stealing were given a slap on the wrist while the small consumers were penalized.Recently, Ash Deonarine, Deputy CEO in charge of Administration, was sent on leave after auditors reportedly found evidence that he paid himself $27M in backpay.A director, Carvil Duncan, was reportedly paid $1M. Both claimed that the payments were authorized.The business community has been urging Government to find solutions for cheaper energy.Government this week said that it is seriously considering a major proposal with Brazil to build a massive hydro electric facility in the Mazaruni, Region Seven, rather than plunging billions into one venture – the Amaila Falls project.Meanwhile, a senior Government official yesterday said that the administration is contemplating a raft of reforms in GPL. The reforms include foreign experts, both technical and administrative, to make GPL more competitive and reduce the losses.The new Government has refused to grant the power company any subsidy this year,Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit Womens, saying that it is not convinced the cash injection is helping.The official said that it is likely Welch may run GPL until a more permanent solution is reached. |