Tuesday
July 1, 2003
Former
UG Dean newest member on the Public Utilities Commission
- Two others to be sworn-in shortly
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is currently
performing the duties of President, this morning swore-in
the latest member to the Public Utilities Commission.
Former Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and now senior
Lecturer at the University of Guyana Professor John Caesar,
took the Oath of Office in the presence of Mr. Hinds at the
Office of the President.
Professor Caesar, who is also a Special Projects Officer in
the Office of Research Mobilization at UG, said he would do
his best to execute the responsibility of his mandate.
“I believe all the other Commissioners have been doing
a good job and I will use all my energy and research knowledge
to help my colleagues to arrive at decisions that are satisfactory
to all parties,” he said in an invited comment to the
Government Information Agency (GINA).
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is established by an
Act and regulates the sector. It is often referred to as the
“watch dog” of the utilities sector and looks
into matters relating to consumers’ interests, including
complaints; quality of service; and the rates charged by the
entities.
The PUC monitors consumers’ matters by utility companies
including the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) and the
Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will also come under the
wings of the PUC.
The tenure of three Commission members expired on June 30,
and they are being replaced. Prime Minister Hinds explained
that Government is seeking to strengthen the role of the PUC
and as such the body is expanding its many responsibilities.
“We are transforming from an era when monopolies were
the rule and moving to an era where competition is now the
prevailing thing. So the PUC’s role in some ways is
changing from regulating in a monopoly context to regulating
in this era of competition, where the focus changes. In the
former, the focus is between the utility and the customer.
In a competitive environment the focus is between the competitors
in the sector providing the services and ensuring that they
do not dominate or take advantage of others,” he said.
Mr. Hinds noted that even though the PUC is in a transition
period, many of the roles and issues engaging the body’s
attention remains the same. Chairman of the PUC Prem Persaud
said the two other members will be sworn-in shortly because
they were unable to make it today.
He said that the PUC plays a pivotal role in the utilities
sector and starting today; the GT&T has the PUC’s
permission to offer value-added service, including voice mail.
The PUC is also at present dealing with matters relating to
the Cell Star Company.
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