“I am very thankful to the President for helping us out” – CWC woman

…as 125 houses at CWC, Moleson Creek get electricity

Some 125 houses in the Crabwood Creek (CWC) and Moleson Creek area on the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are currently being connected to the national grid for the first time.

In May this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali, during a walkabout in those communities, was told of the need to regularize sections of those communities and supply them with electricity.
Those areas were the backlands of Grant 1779 in CWC where about 40 houses are located, the backlands of Grant 1805 where a similar number of houses are located, and Ragubar Nagar in Grant 1803 where about 25 houses are located.
Additionally, at Moleson Creek about 20 houses there are soon to have access to the grid for the first time.
Currently, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has already planted the poles at Moleson Creek.
Following the engagement between residents and President Ali in May, the President ordered GPL official to visit the area and make an assessment of the situation so that electricity could be offered to the residents there at the earliest possible time.
Nazmoon Yassin who lives at Grant 1779 Back Lands said her house was the first to be connected to the grid. She was connected to the grid three weeks ago after been living there for the past decade, prior to that, solar panels to power her appliances.
“We tried a lot of times, talk to plenty of ministers when they had meetings in Crabwood Creek but we never get through. The land here in not transported; we just have sales agreement for the land. The President came about five months ago and he promised that we would current and the next day we see GPL people come in and they start to run post and then the wire. We had to wait a while and then we get the transformer and then finally the current now. I was excited for the first. I waited so long for it and now I get it, I feel so nice that I was the first person to get the current,” the 42-year-old woman said.
She pointed out the previously she had to unplug her refrigerator at night because the solar panels could not store enough power to run it at night with lights.
“I am very thankful to the President for helping us out,” she added.
Yassin said they received assistance from the CWC Neighbourhood Democratic Council in facilitating the process.
She said the thought has been given to the fact that there will be an additional bill to be paid.
“I am okay with that because I am glad for the current,” she noted.
Meanwhile, residents of Moleson Creek have been asking for a paved road and electricity for almost two decades. Last year an asphaltic road was built and it will connect the Corentyne River Bridge when it is constructed to link Suriname and Guyana by road.
Electricity poles have been planted at Moleson Creek and the wires installed. However, no house there has been connected as yet.
Ragin Kumar Mizooem a father of seven who lives at Moleson Creek said his neighbour has already wired his house in anticipation.
“It cost him $150,000 to wire the house and I can’t afford that.”
Mizooem uses solar energy to provide lighting to his house.
“I have seven children and I have to send them to school. So, $150 to $160,000 I can’t afford to pay to wire the house.”
Additionally, he pointed out that he does not have a transport for the land he is living on noting that it was given to him by a friend, who owned most of the land in the area.
“He has not got his transport as yet, so when he get it he would make my transport.”
Another resident of CWC, Janette Jorden explained that she is not connected to the grid and has to wait until her house is wired.
Jorden said she should be able to have the modifications needed shortly.
“Fifteen years we punish waiting to get current. When we get it we could get a small fridge and get other things to use..”
Speaking about the process, she explained that it starts at the NDC office and they are given some paperwork which they have to take to the Regional Democratic Council where approval is given.
Among the documents that have to be taken to the NDC include a copy of their transport or agreement of sales and many residents have neither and are currently trying to obtain those documents. (G4)