VINLEC short of Engineers – CEO

There may be employment waiting at VINLEC for three electrical engineers who have the attitude, aptitude and schooling for the job.

The electricity company commemorated the 90th anniversary of electrification in St Vincent and the Grenadines on May 25.

That date marked the first time that lights were switched on in Kingstown in 1931 when power was only provided to 31 customers at night time in the initial phase.

Thornley Myers, Chief Executive Officer of VINLEC said in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, that one of the challenges in the industry continues to be the lack of engineers.

“The engineering profession still isn’t attractive, seems not to be attractive to a lot of people. We are 16 years into the education revolution…people are not doing engineering and if they’re doing engineering, perhaps they’re not returning to St Vincent, but we are short of engineering capacity within the company,” he said.

Myers said the company invests in their employees and offers training opportunities through scholarships to young and talented engineers already working for the company.

But the CEO said he would like to see more young people take up the field of engineering.

“At this very moment, if I knew two or three young electrical engineers, who’ve done well in schooling, who have the aptitude, they would have a job with VINLEC…aptitude and attitude,” Myers declared.

While public electricity was first supplied in the 1930’s, the company as it is known today, was officially registered 60 years ago. It will commemorate its 60th anniversary on November 27,2021.

VINLEC currently owns and operates nine power plants across the country, with diesel power stations located at Cane Hall, Lowmans Bay, Bequia, Union Island, Canouan and Mayeau and hydro plants located at Cumberland, Richmond and South Rivers.