Govt slashes Bartica electricity rates by 25%

In keeping with a manifesto promise made during the 2025 elections campaign, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will soon be introducing a 25 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs for the mining town of Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
This announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who on Monday led a two-day Cabinet Outreach to the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region.
“As a result of our commitment to making people’s lives better, I am pleased to announce that our first tranche of electricity supply in Region Seven, here in Bartica, will be reduced by 25 per cent. So, our electricity rate will be reduced by 25 per cent in our first tranche as we move up to the 50 per cent across the country,” the Head of State declared at a public engagement in Bartica on Monday.
This reduction in electricity rates will benefit over 5,000 consumers in Bartica and according to President Ali, it is made possible from the investments his administration has made in enhancing the off-grid electricity system in the township.
Back in April 2023, the Guyana Government commissioned the country’s first 1.5 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic farm at Bartica. Located at Daag Point, the $703 million solar farm is connected to the national grid and generates up to 1,988 MWh annually – a project which the President noted did not only drastically reduce diesel consumption but also lower carbon emissions.
“This investment has resulted in a savings of 6,148 drums of diesel and of course, we measure the emission that it eliminates. We eliminated 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide,” he indicated.
Meanwhile, Monday’s engagement also saw President Ali outlining a series of initiatives that would enhance livelihoods and economic activities in the township, as well as the wider region.
One such area he dealt with was the increased air travel costs, especially to take goods in the villages across Region Seven. Recognising that the issue lies with the middlemen who are buying the plane seats and capacity from the airlines but then inflate the prices for citizens, the Head of State noted that there will be a series of consultations, led by the Ministry of Aviation, to find ways reducing the high air transport costs for communities.
“One of the suggestions by some of the villages was to let the villages and the region buy the seats and space themselves, and then to put a decent markup. But all of these suggestions that we took from the villages will be looked at and we will come up with a strategy on this matter, where the private sector is involved, the owners are involved, the residents and communities are involved, all the stakeholders must be involved,” he assured.

US$6M Puruni Bridge
Another key project the Head of State highlighted is the construction of a new major bridge across the Puruni River to the tune of US$6 million. Works on the bridge is expected to commence in August and construction will last for eight months.
Moreover, the Guyanese leader also outlined plans to equip the township with the necessary machinery to conduct maintenance work.
“We are taking a decision that we will invest in critical pieces of equipment including grader, roller, excavators and trucks to create a maintenance programme here. And we are working on putting together a management group for that maintenance programme that will include the private sector, the town council, the REO and other religious groups… You are now empowered. We are investing in you and giving you the equipment to maintain this programme,” he told the residents.
In fact, President Ali expressed his dissatisfaction with the rate at which Bartica residents are taking up opportunities including jobs that are available in a number of sectors including agriculture, which will the government plants to inject another $2 billion in the next four years across Region Seven.
“We are not satisfied with the pace at which the residents are taking up jobs. We want to work with you now, drive you harder and faster in taking up the opportunity for food security and food production. That is the surest way to bring down the cost for food and have a sustainable supply of food for all of Region Seven,” he asserted.
The Head of State went onto note the Guyana Development Bank, which is slated to come onstream soon following the impending passage of the relevant legislations, will not only provide capital for persons but also business support to go after these opportunities.

Contract termination
But even as billions of dollars are being invested in Bartica and surrounding communities, the Head of State lamented the delays of ongoing projects across the region, announcing some stern decisions after meeting with the different project heads.
“After the assessment by the supervisors of the supervisory firm, taking into consideration time delay as a result of airstrips, weather, but we take all of that [and] those that are still behind schedule for four months, those projects will be terminated and contractors will be assigned to complete those projects. So, we have at least three projects in the region that will be terminated for contractors not to move on. So, we have to get this right and get these projects done,” the Guyanese Leader noted.
He further pointed out that the technical officers in the Regional Administration were also warned that if they do not deliver, then their services too will be terminated. “So, we are setting the deadline and a monitoring mechanism in the region, where the private sector, the church, the mosque, the temple, the town council and the REO, the Ministry of Housing, GWI and GPL, all will be involved, because we want everyone to take responsibility for the building out and upliftment of this region.”
Meanwhile, before the outreach in Bartica, President Ali and his team were in Batavia on Monday morning. While there, he announced two kilometres of road will be constructed as well as the expansion of the water system, the building of the sea defense, the construction of a landing at the waterfront, among other things.
President Ali and his Cabinet Ministers on Monday wrapped up the Cabinet Outreach across Region Seven, where they have been fanned out over the past two days and held approximately 29 engagements, covering some 44 villages.