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.
why hasn't the prime minister responded to these concerns?why doesn't he step up and let the people know why the prices are high?mr.prime minister,when you sit down and remain silent,it gives one the impression that you have something to hide.mr.prime minister,throughout your term in office,you have remained too silent on issues.what kind of prime minister are you if you don't take responsibilty for your actions,or at least give explanations for some of your actions and policy?
0
0
By: stallion 3/29/2012 6:15:20 PM
Bro Enlightener good piece that you have written i must say but here is where i am coming from,the opposition party through senator Bowen claims that the reason why electricity is so expensive here in grenada is because sometime durin 1994 one Mr Tillman Thomas NDC had something to do or did not do what should have been done and that is why Electricity is now so expensive here in grenada, and what i now say to Senator Bowen is why was no action take during his party time in office to remedy this misdeed when his party the NNP was in power for nearly 14 years and why is he of all people being the ex finance minister during the reign of the NNP Government,and is it because his party is now in the opposition,why is he asking the current government to set up an investigating committee (see paragraph 4) of his statement when in fact his government had 14 years to deal with such matters and did nothing on behalf of the grenadian people and shows the double standard of the opposition party,Mr Bowen yes the grenadian people is hurting, hurting because your party has a lot to answer for re our current financial situations here in grenada, our business sector is hurting because of your party poor lact of investment in the infrastructure during your government time in office,our farmers is hurting because of your last gogernment poor investment in our agriculture industry,our people is hurting because of lact of investment in our education system during you and your government time in office and finally senator please take a good look of the financial state in which your government left grenada when your government was defeated by the people of grenada in the last election .Senator Bowen please lets all move forward and rebuild grenada and make it a place where all our people will and can live in peace without politicans creating divisions within our communities.
one love
0
0
By: gabe 3/27/2012 8:48:54 AM
The Enlightener, it's the highest in the EC simply because we as a people are often too warefull, follow fashion and often live beyond our means. We ought to learn how to economize. And if it's our aim to live as people in Canada, England, USA and rest of the industrial world, then we must expect to pay a price. Unfortunately, this is the price we will have to pay. It's like those socal poor folk who want to dress themselves and children with the latest fashions, expensive sneakers, etc...would go over and above to compete with who can wear the latest and most expensive atire. This is the cost of moving the country to Canada standard of living whether or not the people can afford it. Adapt or reteact is our only solution.
0
0
By: The Observer 3/27/2012 3:09:00 AM
It is being said that the cost of electricity in Grenada is the highest in the EC Island. That being the case we have to find out why is this so. Reports circulating in the country is that the NDC of 1994 which Hon Tillman was a major player has removed the Electricity Commission the body which was responsible for the regulating of the rates charged to consumers. In the other countries the commission is in place. What we the people of the country is concerned about is the constant increases we are called to pay for electricity when the cost of food continue to go up as well and many people are not working. High electricity charges are a problem for the people and no amount of politicizing of the issues will change that fact. So come on bloggers, stop the hate and lets find a solution to ease the pain of so many people in the country.
0
0
By: The Enlightener 3/26/2012 12:00:40 PM
Good day Senator Bowen sir it is good of you to remind the Grenadian people and voters of the way in which politicans and that also includes you and your party behaves, for as always the opposition behaves and gives the impression that they are the custodian/care keepers of the grenadian people,sir the example you gave as to who is to blame for the current rise in fuel prices and here you badly ignored the fact that from quote 1994 to 1995 until your government was voted out of office you and your Government were the keepers/rulers here in Grenada and in truth it was your Government responsibility to into these matters so i now find it strange you being the ex finance minister should come to this forum and put forward such statement and once again it is in my view misleading and it could only be an election statement on behalf of the opposition party in shifting the blame on the current administration knowing that they the opposition were in government for nearly 14 years and did nothing in sorting this matter out but now claims that it is the responsibility of the current Government and that is the reason why the cost of fuel is so high shame on you senator
Bowen and please address to our people and voters the current state of the global oil market and may be you might also be educated by what you read and them explain to our people where the real issues are where the price of oil is concern globally.
one love.
2
Pgs
