Former Minister for Energy, Sen. Gregory Bowen says the current Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas is largely responsible for the current rise in electricity charges which are hurting the ordinary man as well as businessmen and women nationwide.
According to Bowen, in 1994 the then NDC appointed a special team of which Hon. Tillman Thomas was a key member, to negotiate the sale of GRENLEC. Thomas and the team agreed to sell GRENLEC, a company which was worth over EC $100 million then, for a mere EC$30 million. Today, the company is worth many times more and WRB made back its $15million investment after only four years.
The local negotiating team went further to use EC$5million of the EC$15million received for fifty percent of and controlling interest in the company to buy a new engine as a present to WRB Inc., the US-based group. To make matters worse, the then government went further to remove by legislation the regulating of the price of electricity by the Public Utilities Commission. As a result, the company does not have to get permission to increase the price of electricity.
After assuming office in 1995, the New National Party made several attempts to reverse the action of the NDC administration, however many of these could not be pursued to the end since any difference of opinion had to be resolved by the International Centre for the settlement of Investment Disputes for which the cost was prohibitive.
The Opposition as well as private sector organizations is extremely concerned about the constant increase in the electricity charges. Members of the Private sector are indicating that if the price were to further increase (as is anticipated), it could result in the closure of many businesses island wide. According to Bowen, based on the current situation facing Grenada at this time, this can only mean more unemployment and more social problems.
The Opposition is therefore calling on the Hon. Tillman Thomas to take urgent action in the interest of the poor and vulnerable and on behalf of businessmen/women who are extremely valuable to the economy at this time. In addition to the quickest implementation of the liberalization process commenced by the NNP administration, the Opposition will like to see Government form a special group comprising representatives from various stakeholder organizations to discuss this issue and to come up with recommendations for immediate short term relief.
The Enlightener did you read my last posting where in conmmented and in doing so called on our Prime Minister to have the concer raised by Bowen to be investigated if you did not please re-read my brother and as alway i stand to be corrected re Bowen being finance minister during or part of the last government when they were in Government/office and if i am wrong i stand to be corrected,so my brother please have a blessed day.
one love.
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By: gabe 4/2/2012 6:03:32 AM
the gabe, there u go again. between me and u i think u need to be more fair with ur comments. BTW whats wrong if the opposition look at a legitimate problem as the high cost of electricity that is affecting the entire nation. So when u hear the manufacturers crying out, the hotels crying out etc this is a national problem. this is a problem in the hand of the Government the opposition has a right to point out the problems which concern its opponent and highlight it to the electorate. isn't that what is expected of them. they wont worth their salt if they allow an opportunity like this to pass without saying a word. FYI senator bowen was never ever the minister of finance. I must admit, u are very hopeful that the party u support do well, well done me boy.
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By: The Enlightener 3/31/2012 4:02:31 PM
The Observer, I heard you but when you look at the lead the Government has given you cannot blame my people. If your comment is correct, think about this it, when a minister of Government build two houses since the NDC coming into office and another minister buying two vehicles in the same period. I find you were a little to hard on the people. BTW what is wrong for people wanting to live a better quality of life. Many of our young people have advance themselves academically so we must recognize the price of higher learning dont try to bring us back into the stone age.
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By: The Enlightener 3/31/2012 3:35:44 PM
exactly my point gabe.i do believe these issues are politically motivated,considering the fact the election is not too far away.but on the other hand this is politics.the opposition will attack the governing party on their weaknesses.and am not implying that ndc is guilty of the charges.it just bothers me that for too long tillman doesn't seem concerned about charges made against the party.how can i have confidence in a prime minister that doesn't stand up and defend issues?for example,tillman didn't say much when oscar was killed by the police.he needed to address this issue strongly and promise an overhaul of the force.he still hasn't addressed the hiring of members of the gang of 17.he need to explain why they were hired when there were others just as qualified.these are my concerns bro.gabe.as always i always respect your opinion.have a great day.
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By: stallion 3/30/2012 9:42:18 AM
Bro Stallion as always you go straight to the point but may i also say that somehow my hunch is that the opposition concern re the current cost of electricity in Grenada and the regions is i believe mainly political because the issues to which they the opposition is now concerning themself with should have been debated in Government by all members from all parties because these are serious issues and it is no good the opposition using this important matter for political gains ,so Mr Prime Minister as my friend Stallion says this is a very serious charge directed to you and your government by senator Bowen the ex finance minister of the last government and therefore Mr Prime minister our people need answers as to these charges re the electricity companies and their supplies and Prime Minister it is safe to say that a government that sits back and gives a no comment to such stories will not go down to well with the business communities and voters.
one love.
Pgs
