PM Douglas speaks on initiatives for corporatization of the Department of Electricity

Needsmust Power Plant Generator

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 23RD 2011 (CUOPM) – A number of initiatives is taking place leading to the corporatization of the Department of Electricity in St. Kitts, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has disclosed.

Responding to a question on his weekly radio call-in programme “Ask the Prime Minister” on Tuesday, Dr. Douglas said the corporatization which should be completed by the end of April should lead to efficiencies and a reliability of the service to consumers and that a public information programme will be launched soon.

“This is why we are presently conducting a number of initiatives in the whole process of electricity corporatization. We have been talking about this for the last 3 to 4 years and in our Budget for this year, we mention specifically that we would want to see the full corporatization in the electricity services by the month of April,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

“By doing this, we believe that it can improve on its efficiency. Whereas at the moment it is a Government department, where it maybe… people’s attitudes are not the right attitude with regards to the commitment to work, we believe that with the corporatization, with a new type of management structure and style been brought to the electricity services, that we can rely to some extent on the reliability of the services from here onwards,” said Dr. Douglas.

“A number of things have been taking place. There have been a number of contacts with the workers. The Human Resource Department at the Ministry responsible for the electricity services department as well as Human Resource of the Government have conducted appropriate interviews with the workers.

We know those who are interested in wanting to continue to provide the services as workers, those who have expressed a wish to be retired and those who wished probably to be seconded to the new corporatized entity or those who would want to sever their relationship with the government and thus collect their due financial packages and let the corporation start a new life with those who are interested in continuing,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

“We have also been looking at number of proposals as to how the management structure at this new corporatized entity will be like. We continue to look at the liabilities that the company presently has its assets, its liabilities of the government and its transition,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said the Government has plans to engage the citizens in understanding the move toward corporatization of electricity services and will be providing updates and information.