Government Government feels sabotage with non support from opposition on Hydropower Bill

IMG_8707Georgetown : A full team from the Government side of the National Assembly last night gathered at Parliament building to express their disappointment by the opposition parties APNU and AFC for not supporting the Hydro-Electric Power (Amendment) Bill as well as the accompanying Motion which is aimed at raising the guarantee limit of loans, from $1B to $150B (US $750M).

The passage of both the Bill and the Motion were crucial in order to meet the necessary requirements for the Amaila Hydropower project to the proceeded with.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds assured that this will be the end of Government’s efforts at making hydropower a reality in Guyana.

He lamented the Opposition’s blatant refusal to come to a compromise on a project that will derive tremendous benefits to all Guyanese and catapult the country’s development.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh who referred to the Opposition’s actions as a “travesty against the people of Guyana”.

He noted that this project has brought Guyana closer than it has ever been before to the realisation of the long-standing dream of hydropower. He recalled that many people have invested a significant amount of time and resources to get the country to this point.

 “We are asking the international community to support a project that the Parliament of Guyana, controlled by the AFC and APNU, is not willing to support,” the Finance Minister said.

Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira explained that the Opposition’s move to change the order of the day’s agenda was a calculated one aimed at stymieing the discussions on the matters relating to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

“This is an act of sabotage against our country and our people,” Teixeira said.

Government is worried that the Opposition’s refusal to support the Amaila project will send a negative signal to the international investment community and will take Guyana backwards.