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–    willing to consider reworked Amaila’s project “If you are being asked to fix a man’s motorcar and he brings the hub caps and the back windscreen alone…is it reasonable to say that you have looked at it and fixed it? There is not any Amaila falls project before Parliament and there has never been.”- GreenidgeHours after the US developer officially confirmed its pullout from Guyana’s flagship hydro electric project, the country’s largest Opposition bloc has made it clear that it is prepared to support a new proposal that would guarantee lower tariffs to consumers.Senior leaders of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) also defended the party’s non-support of two pieces of Parliamentary legislation last week which has been blamed for triggering the decision by Sithe Global to end its participation in the planned 165 megawatts Amaila Falls hydro-electric project in Region Eight.APNU’s Carl GreenidgeThe Opposition faction said it took the political risk to ensure that the “flawed” project does not end up like another Skeldon sugar factory.Over the weekend, President Donald Ramotar announced that he was working with APNU’s Leader, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger to salvage the project. This was after indications that Sithe had pulled out after the entire Opposition did not endorse the project. The seven-seat Alliance For Change voted with the Government, but APNU was against.Yesterday, Granger, in an emergency press conference,Kevin Greene Steelers Jersey UK, said that APNU has not changed its stance on the current project with several concerns not addressed. These concerns included the fact that Government has failed to bring the actual project before the National Assembly for approval,Terry Bradshaw Steelers Jersey UK, the ballooning costs,Mike Mitchell Steelers Jersey UK, and no convincing evidence that tariffs will reduce once Amaila is operational.The Opposition Leader disclosed that President Ramotar called him at 07:00 hrs on Sunday to enquire whether the 10-party coalition was prepared to change its position. However, with no new information available, Granger said he told the President that APNU’s stance is unchanged but the party remained committed to further talks.Also at the press conference yesterday were APNU Members of Parliament, former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge; Shadow Public Works Minister Joseph Harmon and Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.Unilateral GovernmentAPNU maintained yesterday that Government made unilateral decisions on the project, set to be the country’s most expensive infrastructural venture ever,Dwight Freeney Falcons Jersey UK, yet never took it to the National Assembly for approval.As a matter of fact,Patrick Chung Patriots Jersey UK, the party stressed, the only documents presented to Parliamentarians were two bits of legislation which were linked to the project. One had to do with the raising debt ceiling of the country and the other for the creation of a reserve area to deal with the possible environmental fallout.The US$200M Skeldon sugar project which has failed to meet production expectations despite being touted as a saviour to the industry.Regarding the legislation related to raising the debt ceiling from US$1B to US$150, Greenidge expalined that the laws made it clear that Government can only guarantee loans for public companies that are wholly owned or in which the state has a 51% or more stake. Government has only 40% in Amaila Falls Hydro Inc. (AFHI), the local company which will be managing the project. Sithe has the remainder. Guyanese are therefore being asked “to make false choices”, he said.Also of concern to the MPs were key, incomplete documents like the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) which would detail the arrangements in place between the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and AFHI.Greenidge also admonished the President’s tone in recent “abrasive” statements over the weekend in which the Opposition was accusation of not being nationalistic.“This is a man who is leading a party that has burnt state property in the past. He can’t lecture to anybody about nationalism.”Local MarketAPNU, insisting that it has nothing against foreign investments, suggested that Government in any new attempt to rework the financing structure of the project, should look to raising some of the monies on the local market.Greenidge also pointed to conflicting claims made by Government on tariff reductions once the hydro facility is operational. This contradicts the 27% hike that GPL threatened in recent times. The figures, as released by Government,Artie Burns Steelers Jersey UK, just do not add up.Greenidge said that APNU was prepared to endorse any project that has national consensus, something that is prevalent in other countries.Regarding talks with the Government, Greenidge was of the opinion that the administration over time paid little attention to what the Opposition wanted, despite the fact that there may have been common interests. The situation seemed all the more ridiculous with the fact that the ruling party operates as a minority in the National Assembly.According to Granger, APNU has visited over 60 communities throughout the 10 regions with concerns being expressed by citizens on the project and the financing structure.“As far as we are concerned, it would be riskier to proceed on a flawed project without sufficient information…we didn’t want another Skeldon in the country.”The official was making reference to the US$200M Skeldon sugar project which has failed to meet production expectations despite being touted as a saviour to the industry.From left: Opposition Leader, David Granger and MPs Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Joseph Harmon.He said that it was better to pull out now and have something later which Guyanese could live with.“We are convinced the decision is in the best interest of this country.”According to Granger, had APNU proceeded on the course of the PPP, the country would have been placed in greater danger.APNU, in defending its position, said the faction took a principled position,Sammie Coates Steelers Jersey UK, since the project is on paper the most expensive energy project currently being considered anywhere in the world, with the US$5M tag price being the most any country would be paying for one megawatt of hydro power.It would not help with making sugar, bauxite and other products from Guyana any cheaper.“It must be planned right.”Greenidge likened the treatment of the Opposition to mechanic and a car.“If you are being asked to fix a man’s motorcar and he brings the hub caps and the back windscreen alone…is it reasonable to say that you have looked at it and fixed it? There is not any Amaila Falls project before Parliament and there has never been.”The Opposition also questioned the significance of there being no mention of Linden in the project, despite three persons being killed there last year in protests over planned electricity hikes. Those plans have since been scrapped.According to Dr. Roopnaraine, APNU remains open to the project.“If they are serious about salvaging Amaila, then nothing less than a complete reorganization of the financial arrangements would be required. They have to reconfigure this entire project…that essentially is the heart of our objection.”Roopnaraine also criticized the timing of the legislation at the last minute,Troy Polamalu Steelers Jersey UK, despite indications that the Government and Sithe Global seemed to have been aware of the requirements by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).The US$858M project has been under scrutiny since being announced by former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The cost has risen from US$300M to well over US$800M, with commentators saying it would be among one of the most expensive hydro project in the world.Government has been hoping to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuel,Dave Robinson Packers Jersey UK, one of its biggest expenses, as demand for power continues to grow.