Government takes solar power to the Upper Demerara River community
SOLAR electricity systems installed in homes at Muritaro Village on the Upper Demerara River under the Hinterland component of the Un-served Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP) were officially commissioned Friday by Acting President, Mr. Sam Hinds.

Muritaro is located about 24 miles south of Kara Kara, Linden. The venue of the commissioning was the community’s primary school.

Among those present at the opening were Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms Pauline Sukhai-Campbell; Mr. Christopher Persaud, a specialist engineer attached to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) Chairman, Mr. Mortimer Mingo; and Mr. Horace Williams, an electrical engineer cum energy economist attached to the UAEP.

The event was also attended by several of the beneficiaries and their families and residents from neighbouring villages along the Demerara River.

A total of 66 solar home systems were installed in as many homes at Muritaro, and one at the primary school. According to Williams, the installations had been completed some weeks ago and residents had been receiving electricity since then.

The installation of the systems at Muritaro was initiated by the Government of Guyana and funded through a soft loan from the IDB.

Three other hinterland communities to have benefitted from the installation of similar systems to date are Yawakita in Region One (Barima/Waini); Capoey in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands); and Kurukubaru in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni).
Each system, Williams said, produces 125 watts of electricity, which is enough to power a few lights, a radio and a television.

The costs to residents for the service, he said, is just G$500 per month per household, and this is mainly because the systems require little or no input, apart from servicing and maintenance. He said that with proper care, the system could last at least 25 years.

Four residents were trained by UAEP to service and maintain the systems, while the Village Council has been charged with managing the operation.

According to Mr. Hinds, the service was initially intended for the coastal areas, but because the government felt the hinterland areas should not be overlooked, it was decided to include several such settlements in the electrification plan. Each system cost the government in the vicinity of $300,000.

Noting that each household will be subject to evaluation over the next six to 12 months, in terms of usage and benefit, Mr. Hinds said he hoped the findings will be so exemplary that funding agencies will be encouraged to establish similar systems in other hinterland locations villages.

Minister Sukhai-Campbell urged residents to keep the momentum gained from the hinterland electrification project going, and the children to use the opportunity to study later at nights so they could excel academically and be of service to their community.

Upon learning that the system installed at the school could power computers as well, Mr. Mingo assured the teachers and pupils that he would see to it that they got a complete computer system by the start of the new school term.

Toshao of Muritaro, Ms Kristy Duggin and other residents who also spoke during the commissioning expressed their gratitude to the government for the hinterland component of the UAEP. They all pledged to make sure that the benefits are sustainable and long lasting. (CS)