By Mark McGowan in Lethem

With the commissioning of the Takutu Bridge hours away, workers at the Lethem Power Station were last evening working assiduously to ensure the second generator acquired to supply “round-the-clock” electricity to the community for this occasion, is working efficiently.

Over the last three days, residents of Lethem were forced to deal with erratic power supply as officials at the power station worked towards installing the second generator. Stabroek News understands that this generator was only acquired within the last two weeks and following its acquisition some additional parts were needed. This led to a delay in its installation.

Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Clarindo Lucas, in a brief interview with Stabroek News, said that, “On the occasion of the official commissioning of the bridge, the Lethem Power Company was moving to have 24-hour electricity”. As a result, a second generator was acquired to augment the generator that the company currently uses. He said that while he is not fully aware of the situation, it would appear as if the power company was experiencing some problems. He said that the company was, however, making some progress and pointed out the new generator was “hooked up” on Saturday and that “last night (Saturday night)” we had electricity all night, he said.

However, yesterday the problems appeared to have resumed since there was an extended blackout during the day. This was followed by a brief period where the power fluctuated between being on and off. One resident told this newspaper that the situation was “like Christmas; we’re having fairy lights all the time”.

When Stabroek News contacted head of the power company, John Fredericks, for a comment he declined to speak.

By last evening there appeared to be some return to normalcy in the electricity supply.

Twenty-four hour electricity
supply for Lethem

Meanwhile, Lucas told this newspaper that the acquiring of the additional generator is also part of a long-term measure to provide 24-hour electricity supply to the community. At present, Lethem only receives eighteen hours of electricity daily from 7am to 1am.

According to the Regional Chairman, after the commissioning of the bridge the community will briefly return to the eighteen-hour electricity supply, so that the power company could sort out whatever faults there may be with the system. He said that from “the 1st October, they are looking to have a 24-hour electricity supply.”

Some residents, however, were not so optimistic about this as they contended that the generators could not “push” all the electrical appliances in the community.

The owner of a popular business establishment, who declined to be named, pointed out that several persons in Lethem now have air-conditioning units, freezers and other heavy-duty equipment in their homes and businesses. The proprietress opined that bigger generators and additional equipment would be needed if there is to be a marked improvement in the community’s power supply.

A high-level government team is expected in Lethem for today’s commissioning of the long-awaited bridge link to Brazil.  Several other projects are to be inaugurated.