As part of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) electrification programme, 16 new communities will be supplied with electricity for the first time, in time for Christmas this year.
This information was revealed during a press conference on Tuesday, where
CH&PA Chief Executive Officer Lelon Saul
CH&PA Chief Executive Officer (GEO) Lelon Saul outlined the details of this initiative, which started recently.
According to Saul, the Authority is currently in the process of procuring transformers, wallaba posts and other materials, from both local and overseas sources, which should be delivered soon.
The first component of the programme has to do with the procurement of electrical and linear wear, material transformers and conductors. The second component deals with the procurement of wallaba posts and the third, the procurement of works.
“The provision of these materials and works will facilitate installation of electricity in 16 CH&PA schemes,” he stated, explaining that the procurement process was moving quickly.
Saul said for sub-component one of the programme, there were currently six contracts for the supply of electrical linear wear, transformers and conductors. And according to him, these materials will be sourced from China and should be delivered by October month-end.
Meanwhile, the transformers are being sourced from Bogota, Colombia, where a total of 30 per cent mobilisation payment has been made for the equipment to be delivered by September month-end. The conductors will be provided by Dynamic Engineering, a local company, and Power Lite Product out of Trinidad and Tobago, and will be delivered by September month-end.
In relation to the supply of wallaba posts for the programme, the CH&PA CEO told media operatives that although the 15 contracts were submitted since April this year, Cabinet only gave its no-objection to these contracts on July 7, which has caused a delay of six weeks. Nevertheless, the contracts are being prepared and will be signed by the end of this month and a 30 per cent mobilisation payment will be made.
“We anticipate in relation to the electrification programme in these 16 areas, by the beginning of December, all those 16 areas will be powered and hundreds will benefit from this programme,” Saul assured members of the media, when questioned about the implementation of the programme.
The housing official said the programme would cost overall $471 million and it would directly benefit some 38,000 households along with industrial areas within the various communities.
The 16 communities that are due to receive electricity by year-end include: Onderneeming, Region Two; Zeelugt, Region Three; Farm, Covent Garden, Diamond, Eccles, Perseverance, Barnwell on the East Bank of Demerara; Paradise and Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara (Region Four); and two others.
In Region Five, Hope, and Experiment and Baltyock, East Coast Demerara are earmarked to also receive electricity, as well as Kilcoy and Chesney in Region Six, and Bartica in Region Seven.
