Three days after the generating set at Lethem broke down, power was finally restored to major businesses in the border community yesterday.
The larger businesses had been completely disconnected from the power grid following the failure of the generating set in the Region Nine community which occurred at around 8 pm on Monday. This newspaper had been told that the major power-generating set developed problems and electricity throughout the community was cut for 12 hours.
The following day a smaller generator was pressed into operation but power to major businesses such as hotels and gas stations was not restored and they were physically disconnected from the grid. Residents said that the power company had not told them anything and Executive Director of the Lethem Power Company (LPC) John Fredericks said that he had no comment to make to this newspaper when contacted yesterday. This newspaper was told that an engineer flew into the community, fixed the generator and power was restored sometime after 4 pm to the big businesses.
A similar situation had occurred earlier this year and late last year with the big businesses physically disconnected from the grid after the big generator developed mechanical problems. As occurred earlier this year, during the latest incident there was load-shedding, this newspaper was told.
Business owners in the community had earlier called for a few hours of electricity each day to be provided to them. Businessman Alfred Ramsaran had pointed out that the main businesses are the major revenue earners for the power company, and they felt that at least they should have been given some electricity during the day time to operate their businesses. At the time, he spoke to this newspaper he said that it was not clear when the whole community will be given electricity as they had been told that an engineer would have to come from Georgetown to fix the broken generator.
The businessman told this newspaper that in the meantime, the business community is still looking forward to the recommendations they had made on December 6th last year requesting a 24-hour, reliable service especially since there has been more businesses and residences which require electricity. He asserted that though it was said that a new Board was installed at the LPC last April, it seems that it does not include a consumer representative “who could listen to the problems of consumers.” Ramsaran added that the composition of the board is not clear and consumers and business persons would like to know the names of the persons who comprise the Board.
“How can you just cut off people just like that”, an upset Linda Khan had asked. Noting that this was not the first time that such a problem had occurred, the businesswoman had told Stabroek News that she was upset at the way that they are being treated adding that even if they got a few hours of electricity a day, she would be content. She said that she could not take guests at her hotel due to the problem. “All these things destroy your equipment”, she asserted. She said that the power company has always complained about “load” but they keep on adding new customers to the grid steadily. Yesterday, when contacted after 4pm, she said that her business had a few minutes earlier been re-connected to the grid.
Another businesswoman had told this newspaper too that from Monday to Wednesday night, power to her area was cut. When she spoke with this newspaper yesterday after 3 pm, there was a blackout in her area and she said that they are not satisfied with the situation.
In his 2009 Budget speech, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said that $41 million has been budgeted for the purchase of a generating set and transformer for the LPC.
Residents in the border town have long complained of an unreliable electricity supply and six years after rain and mudslides put the Moco-Moco Hydro-electricity plant out of commission, power in the community remains problematic.
Lethem is one of the villages to be transformed into towns and is the key point for trade with Brazil. The Takutu Bridge linking the two countries has been completed but is yet to be officially opened. Residents on the Guyana side of the bridge have frequently stated that the infrastructure in the community needs substantial upgrading.
