Stalled Mabaruma solar farm project being reclaimed by forest – Region One Chairman
According to Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley, a $264 million solar power farm built in the region is being reclaimed by the forest without having lit one bulb.
The solar power farm was to be operational last August but more than a year later problems have apparently hindered it.
“I guess it’s contributing to the Green State Agenda as it is being overtaken by the forest,” Ashley told a press conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Friday.
The Mabaruma Solar Farm was described in the 2017 Budget as the first of several such farms which were to be established under the Hinterland Electrification Programme.
Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced at the time a budgetary allocation of almost $1 billion to implement a series of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
He said these interventions, to be channelled through and managed by the Guyana Energy Agency, would include the installation of the first solar farm on a large scale in Mabaruma. The Minister had also explained that when operational, the 400-kilowatt solar farm would afford an additional 17 hours of electricity to the 3,000 residents of Mabaruma.
Two years later Ashley is claiming that the project is nonfunctional. Stabroek News reached out to Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson for a response to Ashley’s claims but up to press time he could not be reached.
Ashley along with Vice Chair Sarah Brown appeared at Friday’s press conference with parliamentarians Nigel Dharamlall and Collin Croal as well as Region 9 Vice Chair Karl Singh to address issues of concern to Hinterland Regions.
During the press conference Ashley repeatedly stressed that Capital projects within the region are not being executed allegedly because of interference from the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Randolph Storm.
“Not even 50% of the projects have been implemented because of the REO. Major projects which should have been completed have not been awarded or are still in the mobilization phase,” he stated, adding that the Port Kaituma Primary and Secondary Schools are still in a shift system because the rehabilitation of the building has not been completed. He estimated that just over 30% of Capital projects have been completed.
In fact, according to Ashley, the REO is starving the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of resources. The RDC he shared has not met since April because the REO attempted to “dictate” the meeting time and agenda.
While he expressed gratitude for the infrastructural projects such as road repairs being done in the Region, Ashley took pains to point out that it was not enough.
He argued that revenue earned from the region “from fuel alone” should mean more is done.
Brown reiterated Ashley’s concerns and drew attention to the fact that a significant portion of the Region’s budget has over the years been returned to the Consolidated Fund.
“We as a region have not been using the money given to us. The council is
starved of finance to meet people on the ground while Ministers are visiting via charter flights,” she stressed.
Brown along with all the other politicians present at the press conference were extremely critical of recent government outreaches including one they claim has been arranged for the new week.
The officials noted that information reaching them reveals that more than 30 government officials are expected to be visiting the Region with stops planned in all indigenous villages. They questioned the purpose and mode of the visit stressing that the resources could be better used. “They don’t come by boat they come by chartered plane. Expensive chartered aircrafts. Last time the minister visited they had the aircraft on the ground all day I can just imagine how much that cost,” Brown lamented.