The Grenada Electricity Services Limited (GRENLEC) has reached a milestone in its existence by serving the people of Grenada for the past 80 years.
The lone power company on the island is celebrating its eightieth anniversary under the theme, "A Gleaming Past, A Golden Future - 80 years of excellence through the wire." The anniversary celebration got started last Sunday with an Ecumenical Service at the Grenada Trade Centre in Grand Anse, St. George's.
In his sermon at the Ecumenical Service, pastor at the Archibald Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church, Jerome Gordon praised GRENLEC's survival for the past 80 years.
"GRENLEC, you have survived, you struggled through the difficulties surmounted with challenges and the insecurities of the corporate world, remaining undaunted in the face of many man-made and natural disasters," he said.
Pastor Gordon invited the GRENLEC family to reflect on what the 80 years meant for the country.
He said reflections on these occasions are indeed invaluable, adding that the past has its profound message that "we should never allow to elude us." "No anniversary celebration is complete without a thorough appraisal of one's history," he told the congregation.
The Seventh Day Adventist Pastor spoke about how pleased he was with the theme chosen.
"I am so happy that in your theme you have included the notion of looking back. Because indeed it is only as we look back that we understand where we are and where we need to go," he said.
Pastor Gordon indicated that the eightieth milestone is a time for thanksgiving and encouraged the GRENLEC family to praise God as they try not to forget how he has led them these 80 years.
"I challenge every worker today, leave here with a renewed determination to allow God to shine his light through you, and let that light be seen in increased productivity and quality service," he said.
Pastor Gordon also had a message for GRENLEC's decision-makers. He said the policies that are framed and ratified in the Board Rooms ought to be characterised by justice and fair play.
The Ecumenical Service was attended by a number of retired employees.
Grenada experienced the inaugural switching on of lights from Burns Point Power Station supplying electricity to the Parish of St. George on February 14, 1928.
Up until the mid 1950's electricity was only available in St. George's after which it was extended to St. David's, followed by St. Andrew's.
Between 1961 and 1965, electricity was extended to St. John's, St. Mark's and St. Patrick's.
In December 1960, the late Prime Minister Herbert Blaize switched on the lights in Hillsborough, Carriacou, and during the days of the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) of the late Maurice Bishop, electricity was brought to Petite Martinique.
In 1994, as part of the self-designed structural adjustment programme of Sir Nicholas Brathwaite's Government, GRENLEC became a public company throughout the sale of shares.
Fifty percent of the shares were sold to the Grenada Private Power Limited, a subsidiary of WRB Enterprises Incorporated, 40 percent to employees, together local and Caribbean nationals.
The government retained ten percent of the shares.
