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FORMER public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales is calling on the Government to tell the population what its plan is for settling the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC) $7 billion debt to the National Gas Company (NGC) in view of its decision not to implement a rate increase.

Speaking yesterday at a news conference at the Opposition Leader’s office in Port of Spain, Gonzales noted Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath indicated the Government intended to scrap the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) report (which recommended a rate hike).

“The question now falls for the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to tell the country what is Government’s plan for settling the $7 billion owed to the NGC...If the Government’s policy is to write off this debt owed to the NGC, then how is that going to impact on the financial situation of the NGC?” he asked.