PNC/R defends Opposition Leader’s stance on utility subsidies

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has today in a public statement strongly criticised attempts by entities it said is aligned with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to misrepresent the statements made by Leader of the Opposition Aubrey C. Norton during his press conference on July 19, 2024. According to the PNCR, these misrepresentations aim to undermine the party’s commitment to maintaining subsidies for utilities such as electricity and water.
To this end, it was pointed out that in response to a question from Demerara Waves regarding whether a PNCR-led government would eliminate these subsidies, Norton clearly articulated the party’s position. He emphasised that while efforts would be made to enhance the efficiency of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to reduce their financial burden on the national treasury, subsidies would remain. Norton reiterated the PNCR’s long-standing stance that essential services like electricity and water should be either free or affordable for low-income households and vulnerable groups.
The PNCR highlighted an earlier statement by Norton from November 25, 2022, where he asserted that water and electricity services for low-income households should be subsidised by the government to ensure that no household in need is denied these essentials. Despite advocating for these provisions in the national budget, the calls were ignored.
Reaffirming its commitment to the Guyanese people, the PNC?R outlined its broader socio-economic agenda, which includes creating good-paying jobs, fostering small business opportunities, and implementing programs such as monthly childcare allowances, tax exemptions for low-to-medium income earners, rent assistance, free tuition for tertiary education with student stipends, provision of two hot school meals a day, and substantial increases in salaries and pensions.
Additionally, the PNCR criticised the PPP’s handling of the GPL, citing mismanagement that led to the costly emergency acquisition of a power ship and the purchase of 17 used generator sets of questionable functionality for US$27 million.
The PNC/R argued that this mismanagement has resulted in persistent blackouts and additional subsidies to maintain current electricity tariffs and have since called for more effective management to reduce operating costs and improve service delivery, condemning waste, incompetence, and corruption in public affairs.
While maintaining subsidies for utilities remains a priority, the PNCR emphasised the necessity of making GPL and GWI more efficient to better serve the nation.