PM installs new GM and Board of Directors for K.U.I

By Solomon McGarrell

      Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday installed a new General Manager  and a new Board of Directors at the Kwakwani Utilities Incorporated (KUI). Mr. Paris Archer was nominated as Chairman of the 10- member Board.

    The Board is installed to manage the affairs of the company and will be reviewed after one year.

The Prime Minister who was at the time introducing the members of the Board at a community outreach at the Kwakwani Recreational Centre, urged residents of Kwakwani to give theDirectors a fair chance and lend a supportive hand in bringing future development to the community.

      “This Board that we installed today is your Board, it’s people from this community and people who are interested in the development of this community. I want you to give this Board an opportunity to work and deliver on your behalf,” Phillips implored the residents.

     According to the 2021 budget,  KUI will receive a total of $ 490 Million in subvention. Hon. Phillips further vowed to deliver shortly on the government’s aim to move from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

     While the Board of Directors appears to be competent and equipped in delivering holistically in the eyes of the government, it differs drastically in the eyes of the residents. ” Y’all choose a set of people who you want to control Kwakwani, the people of Kwakwani supposed to choose who they want to control K/K. You gotta choose educated people,” one resident affirmed with loud applause.

    According to Minister of Public Works, Hon. Juan Edghill, who was also present at the outreach, Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated (HECI) is a government entity and therefore it is that entity’s responsibility to give direction to the management team of KUI in policy direction. “We have to assemble skills, youths and expertise coming from the various areas. It is not the first time KUI is being given a government-appointed Board, this is how it has been since the bauxite company has left the community,” Edghill said.

  Paris Archer told INFO 10 that he is delighted to be appointed as the Chairman of the Board and will center his appointment around the development of the company, to better serve the community. ” I like to see development, so I would be supporting the GM a 100 per cent in addressing issues that will be of importance to pave the path for development.”

   Members of the newly installed Board are Paris Archer (Chairman),  Dr. Gregory Harris, Gibron Bacchus, Sachie Parvaton, Pam Ramberran, Orlando Johashin, Kay Forde, Aubrey Gobin, Delmus McPherson and Jennifer Edwards.