President meets with Adelphi residents

- electrification process to be accelerated

Georgetown , GINA, November 11, 2005

President Bharrat Jagdeo today assured residents of Adelphi, Canje that electrification of their area will begin in December, under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UEAP).

The community is one of the many areas in Berbice earmarked to benefit under the $34.4M that targets electrification of approximately 50,000 households in some 220 communities in unserved areas across the country.

Adelphi village was earmarked to benefit under Phase One of the project, but was delayed.

However, President Jagdeo today confirmed with Robin Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company, that the Company will shift its efforts to Adelphi in December.

Government has already paid $2B to provide electricity to some 20,000 households in the newly established housing areas under the extension of the UAEP.

“GPL is stretched right now, but has already paid them the money to do that work so it is not a matter of the money. The funds have been secured and paid so you will have electricity before March next year,” the President assured anxious residents.

Residents asked that the project be accelerated. The President explained that they will have to depend on GPL, since residents cannot afford to access funds for the programme on their own. He noted that Government is contributing about $60,000 per household in the area for electricity.

GPL has contracted private persons to accelerate the programme. However, because of the large scale of the programme, some delays have been encountered.

The Adelphi housing scheme consists of 130 families and residents called on the President to disband the area’s Co-op Society. They claim that they have already procured a petition from every resident in the area for the Society to be replaced by a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

The Head of State noted that the matter will be looked into following a thorough discussion with residents.

Residents also complained of drainage issues which the Regional Chairman, Kumkarran Ramdass will address later next week.

Meanwhile, teachers of the Canje Secondary school beseeched the President to look into the matter of a missing pay sheet which disappeared in September last and resulted in teachers not being paid for October.

President Jagdeo instructed Ramdass to sort out the matter in a meeting which is scheduled for next Monday. If the matter is not addressed at that level, the Head of State told the teachers they are to contact him for the matter to be resolved expeditiously.

“When people work we have to pay them. We should not let little hiccups and bureaucracies prevent people from receiving the money they earn. You should sort this out urgently with them,” he told the Regional Chairman.

Nineteen-year old Adelphi resident, Rakesh Ramnarine was promised assistance by the Head of State. Ramnarine was injured as a result of an accident which occurred while he was cleaning a nursery school in 2002. The President asked that the youth be given an assessment of his condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital and upon reviewing the report he (the President) will then act.

Another issue raised by Aldephi residents was house lot allocation and the selling of lots. The President promised that Minister of Housing and Water, Shaik Baksh will investigate the matter.

He also made an impromptu visit to Rosehall to check on road works which have been halted due to a variation in the specification of the project.

President Jagdeo noted that as long it does not exceed the budgetary sums and the time-frame for the project, the variation could be approved. He urged that the matter be discussed with the relevant Ministry and expedited to ensure that the road project is completed.

As part of a massive road programme, Government is repairing some 16 streets in Rosehall, Region Six ( East Berbice/ Corenytne).

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