Approximately 500 residents of Samville, Kuru Kuru – a community located miles off the Soesdyke Highway – will for the first time benefit from the services of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).
It fulfills an undertaking by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during one of his recent outreaches to the community.
Representatives of GPL visited the area on Thursday to interact with residents, listen to their concerns and answer questions on the application process.
The community was developed in 2005 with manual labour; with axes and cutlasses, according to NDC Councillor Edris Boston.
It was more like a jungle and was built with self-help. In fact, only last year it received concrete roads for the first time.
Because it is made up of mostly squatters, authorities have been working to get the area regularized. This is one of the issues preventing many residents at the moment from benefitting from the electricity service that is now available.
They must get their land documents in order before their applications can be processed. And this is why residents were hoping to see representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission on Thursday.
Project Engineer at GPL, Oscar Gravesande explained that the network has already been constructed, and it is now up to the residents to apply.
“The project started a few months ago and now the network is already constructed as per design, meaning that the power is readily available for the residents,” Gravesande told the News Room.
Once residents produce the relevant documents, their application can be processed within seven to 14 working days.
Network Manager for the Demerara Zone Nigel Chetram shared that residents can now make their application for electricity.
“The resources are available to give them the supply when they apply for it, so we now encourage them to do that.”
Kelly Ramnarace spoke about how the darkness in the area affects her.
“Especially when you have to come home from work in the nights and walk in total darkness. This is definitely a breakthrough for us; we are very much thrilled and happy,” She said, adding that: “I have a solar that gives us light and help us charge our devices. But it’s nothing like coming into a house and pressing a switch and there’s electricity, so you can charge your phone, watch TV, keep updated with the news, children can get to use the internet as they like.”
Another resident, Carlos Kellman, explained that some residents do not even have access to solar power and generators.
“The solar you have to keep buying every few months. You have to buy gas for your generator, and the solar needs battery. It’s over $300,000 you have to pay for a good solar system in your house to have your little fridge; to charge your phone instead of going all the way to the front (of the community) to charge your phone.”
