Bartica without power

Bartica is without power after a failed turbo charger caused the No.9 Caterpillar Generating Engine to come offline last evening.

“A team comprising of MACORP and GPL personnel are currently working to assess the damage, replace the damaged turbo charger and restore power at earliest,” a statement from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said last evening. Bartica was plunged into darkness at 6:15pm.

The community was experiencing frequent power outages since Monday after the main switch of the generator was damaged and technicians could not fix the problem.

“Bartica has been without electricity for the last 48 hours and residents have been complaining bitterly about the effects the (prolonged) power shortage have had on their lives.

Businesses have been losing by the hour as many of their perishable items have been damaged costing them millions in losses,” a statement from the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) said on Monday.

Expressing concern about the constant blackouts that have plagued Bartica, the GWMO called on the GPL to immediately rectify the situation and alleviate the suffering of residents.