Region One residents faced with power woes

Santa Rosa Mission, in the Moruca sub-region of the North West District, in Region One, is now without electricity due to a burst power line, while residents and businesses in the region’s Mabaruma township have had to contend with a reduction in their power supply due to mechanical problems affecting one of the generators servicing the area

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley yesterday told Stabroek News that a power line burst while some residents were cutting a tree at Santa Rosa. He explained that after a report was made to the authorities, residents were informed that the issue would be rectified within three days.

As a result, a notice posted outside the regional administration building has informed residents that they will be without power until August 18th.

Ashley said it is unacceptable for such a simple issue to take four days to be rectified.

Additionally, Ashley noted that in Mabaruma, one of the generators is currently non-functioning due to lack of maintenance.

“The region is responsible for the power supply to residents and we have submitted a proposal to the [Regional Executive Officer] but he never signed off on it and no maintenance was done of the 750 kVA generator. So, this has resulted in limited power supply in the township,” he said.

According to Ashley, the power supply is currently being staggered to the township, which is now depending on a single generator.

“Some communities receive electricity from 5 to 8 pm, while another set receives from 8 to 11 pm. This situation could have been avoided if the REO had signed off on the proposal for works because there is budgetary allocations for such works,” he asserted.

The Regional Chairman further stressed that if the $200 million solar farm was operational, the disruptions would have potentially be a thing of the past.

He argued that despite the farm being completed, there are several issues that need to be rectified.

“It is looking like a waste of money because it is not functioning. There is no storage capacity for a long period, a transformer is reportedly damaged and they have been reluctant to fix it. I don’t know what is happening with that project,” he added.

The region’s power issues started on Wednesday and Ashley claimed he has not been briefed by the REO on what is being done to solve the issue.