Georgetown: Residents of Lethem and the surrounding Region Nine communities can expect an improvement in their electricity supply early next year and no rate increases will be considered until then either. Lethem residents were informed of this by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds when he visited the community on Saturday.
The Prime Minister announced that the plans to purchase two new 750 Kva power generating sets, at a cost of $25M each have been concluded and the sets should be in Guyana by Christmas. However, it will take some time and work before they can be transported to Lethem, he observed.
He also pointed to the previous agreement made for a slight increase in tariffs and explained that the Board of Directors of the Lethem Power Company had opted to hold this off until 2014. PM Hinds observed that the Board was committed to the plans for a new power station.
The station will be sited on relatively high ground in the commercial/industrial area and will be constructed within a year. This decision was taken due to flooding in the community which often affects the present power station, according to the Prime Minister.
He observed that the Chairman and the Board of Directors of the Company would give the steady attention which the LPC requires.
Speaking to the residents, PM Hinds noted that while citizens can work to build Guyana and Lethem, “we can see improved electricity in the same light.” He reflected on the partial supply of power to the community, pointing to the improvement that would come with the advent of the new plants.
The Prime Minister noted that one resident had promised to contribute 15 bags of cement to assist in building the base for the new generators. He urged other residents to respond similarly with whatever they could, pointing out that each contribution would help.
“We need assistance, but we must never lose sight that the primary job of building Guyana is for us to do,” he said.
PM Hinds also explained a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Brazil for the provision of electricity to the Roraima State and Manaus; the Lethem to Linden Road and the deep water harbour.
Residents raised their issues during the meeting with the Prime Minister one of which spoke of maintenance of the new generators. PM explained that persons have already been selected to be trained to carry out such a function.
On the issue of the state of the Lethem to Linden road, he promised to raise the issue with Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn and urged residents to also write to him to make their concerns known.
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