GPL powers up Angoy's Avenue

GPL powers up Angoy’s Avenue

Jan 24, 2015 News

By Leon Suseran

LET THERE BE LIGHT:
This youngster turns on the switch

On Thursday evening the lights of one of Guyana’s largest squatter settlements were turned on by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, ably assisted by a youngster from the area, officially powering up Angoy’s Avenue, Berbice. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL), Mr. Bharat Dindyal; Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan; Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of the area, Mr. Zabarally Armogan, and scores of residents of the community.
Commissioning the $26M project was Prime Minister Hinds, who during the feature address, talked about the struggles and challenges of the power company to reach and power the homes across Guyana, especially since the population keeps growing and a number of new areas have emerged. He also talked about the historical aspects of the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP) which was done with a soft loan from the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB).
The Prime Minister hinted at a possible UAEP Phase 2 to deal with the newer areas in Guyana. He added that should there not have been an injunction by the New Haven Co-op, the community could have benefitted from electricity since the UAEP programme in 2005.
GPL Berbice Operations Loss Reduction Coordinator, Mr. Phalyanjee Nandkumar, during remarks, stated that the contract was signed in October last year for the massive electrification squatter settlement and this brought much anticipation from residents.
Nandkumar, in giving a brief history about the area, stated that the People’s National Congress had taken over Angoy’s Avenue in 1968, “and had promised residents to open a housing scheme, but failed to establish same.” The scheme expanded throughout the coming years.
The area was being managed by the New Haven Co-Op Society, comprised of a few individuals. Nandkumar noted that the few persons that remained with the Co-Op were opposed to the government going into the area to do developmental works, “by giving residents drainage, water, telephone and proper roads.” It was that Co-op that filed a High Court injunction against the government from going into the area to do works.
He noted that prior to the electrification programme, Angoy’s Avenue had the highest illegal connection rate of about 99 per cent. “This was eventually reduced to 90 per cent in 2014; a total of 1,685 illegal connections were removed in 2014.” He noted that the company is spending billions of dollars on cutting out electricity theft all across Berbice.
He challenged residents of Angoy’s Avenue to “follow the principles of Nand Persaud & Company and A. Ally and Sons who pay over $30M and $10M a month to GPL for electricity.”
The infrastructural works of erecting poles and lines commenced on November 4 and concluded on December 8 by Mr. Daniel Ramotar contracting services. A cost of $16M was spent on the network, while $10M was spent on wires, transformers and meters.
Nandkumar added that GPL started to process applications in December and meters were being installed. Meter- installation continued well into the festive season. To date, that department has completed 331 new service installations. Applications, he stated, are still being processed by the company, “until government and GPL are satisfied.”
He noted that in addition to Angoy’s Avenue, Number 76 Village, Corriverton Housing Scheme; Fort Ordnance; Glasgow and Bath Housing Schemes were also electrified for the first time.
Vice- Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPL, Mr. Carvil Duncan alluded to the enormous benefits electricity can have to students, and how pleased he was about such a development. He warned the residents against stealing electricity.
Community Relations Officer attached to the Office of the President, Mr. Faizal M. Jaffarally noted that less than 30 per cent of the 130,000 residents of Berbice received electricity just a few years ago, compared to 98 per cent today.
First –time beneficiary areas include Gangaram, Brothers, Sisters, Little India, Little Africa, Line Path, Crabwood Creek and Black Bush Polder. The same, he said, can be said about potable water, where more than 90 per cent of residents in Berbice are receiving water with 75 per cent receiving treated water.
The Member of Parliament called for the stigmatization of the residents of Angoy’s Avenue as dope- pushers, electricity thieves, bandits, burglars, etc, to cease immediately. “Now that you have electricity, Angoy’s Avenue must produce some of the top students at the Grade Six Exams and at CXC Exams!”
“Angoy’s Avenue suffered under the Municipality of New Amsterdam, which has a responsibility to the people here, but they never turned in your direction, despite the Council receiving subvention from this government—not a single cent was spent in Angoy’s Avenue!”
Remarks were also made by Mr. David Armogan and Zabbarally Armogan, while the programme was chaired by TV and radio personality, Ms. Michella Abraham- Ali.