ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—The Dominica Electricity Company Ltd. (DOMLEC) announced Tuesday that Dwayne Cenac, a Grenadian-born electrical engineer, is the company’s new general manager.
A statement said that Cenac, who has extensive experience in the power systems sector, will assume duties on September 2. He replaces Mrs. Bertillia McKenzie, who resigned earlier this year.
“Mr. Cenac assumes the role of manager of DOMLEC at a challenging time for the company, as it plays its part in Dominica’s transition from fossil fuel generation to renewable energy, particularly geothermal energy,” said DOLEC’s chairperson, Francine Baron.
“The board (of directors) is satisfied that Mr. Cenac is qualified and able to successfully manage that transition and lead the company to stability, profitability, and efficiency,” she added.
DOMLEC said Cenac, who previously worked in various departments within the Grenada Electricity Company Ltd (GRENLEC), brings to DOMLEC his knowledge and understanding of the unique characteristics of island utilities, their challenges, and opportunities for growth.
DOMLEC said that as general manager, Cenac, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, and a post-graduate diploma from the University of Wales in Business Management with a specialization in Project Management, will provide strategic leadership, oversee the company’s day-to-day operations, and steer the planning and execution of infrastructure development projects aimed at improving DOMLEC’s efficiency and capacity.
“His financial acumen and leadership skills will be crucial in managing the company’s financial strategy and controls and leading the team in achieving customer satisfaction and stakeholder management.”
In recent times, DOMLEC has been experiencing problems resulting in load shedding. However, the statement said it is currently in the process of installing a 4.8MW system that will significantly increase its generating capacity and improve the reliability of the company’s service to its many customers island-wide.
In March 2022, the Dominica government announced that it had acquired the majority shares in the island’s lone electricity company following discussions that began a year ago with the Canadian-based energy company Emera Incorporated.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in a radio broadcast, did not disclose the amount being paid for ownership of the utility company but noted that on several occasions, he had publicly expressed “the need for us to take greater control of our energy security and correct a historical wrong, returning DOMLEC to the ownership of the Dominican people.
“This interest in the ownership of DOMLEC is predicated on the firm belief that our citizens are better served when the country’s main utilities, such as water and electricity, are in the hands of the State.”
Skerrit told the nation that the former Dame Eugenia Charles government had acquired the majority shareholding in DOMLEC from the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), but a United Workers Party administration later sold it back to CDC in 1997.
DOMLEC has changed twice since 1997, and on both occasions, the shares were owned by foreign companies. The most recent change was Light & Power Holdings Ltd. (LPH) of Barbados, a majority-owned subsidiary of Emera Inc.
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