GPL must provide better services for customers – Minister Indar
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, MP, says the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) must provide better services to its customers.
The Minister made this statement on Monday while meeting with the company’s disconnection and reconnection contractors at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Complex.
“GPL is a Government-run institution, and you have to make sure the customer is treated fairly…
“We want GPL to have a positive view out there and it starts with us. We’re the ones going out to deal with the difficult confrontations; we have to make sure we don’t get into arguments with people,” he told the meeting.
Minister Indar says he is pleased that GPL has been dispatching its contractors across the country to provide a better and faster response to calls from customers.
Meanwhile, GPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bharat Dindyal told the contractors to avoid arguing with customers when challenges arise and to return to the office in order to protect themselves.
“I’ve always said to contractors, while you’re there to execute an order on behalf of GPL, you’re also conscious of your own safety, and your safety comes first.
“If you’re in a situation which you know can escalate to some harm coming to you… disengage and come back to the office, let us deal with that.”
Additionally, in keeping with the Government’s efforts to support the public during the pandemic, GPL has not disconnected any customer who owed less than $50,000 over the last 18 months. Instead, customers are engaged and given time to make payments before they are disconnected.
GPL’s disconnection and reconnection staff comprises four external contractors namely, Cummings Electrical, Williams Electrical, Rudolph Electrical and Quality Connections. They also have 14 internal contractors and three teams for emergency purposes.
The teams in Region Four operate along the East Coast, Central Georgetown and East Bank of Demerara. GPL also has teams across the regions.