Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
May 12, 2001

GUYANESE throughout the country now have a better chance of seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" in five years' time, as the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Power and Light Company Limited (GPL) in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank embark on a programme to take electricity to some 55,000 consumers in the next five years.

This very ambitious programme called the `Unserved Areas Electrification Programme' which runs to the tune of some US$25M will cover all 10 regions in Guyana, brightening the hope of all Guyanese, especially those in areas who will receive electricity for the first time.

Like those Guyanese who have never been supplied with power before, we welcome this move, and see it as a positive and bold step for the further development of the entire country.

We believe that the electrification programme will lead the way towards providing employment for the employed by way of opening up more factories, industries and manufacturing establishments and greatly enhancing production and agriculture.

We unreservedly support the government in this very brave step because we are certain that when the entire country is provided with electricity, when agriculture and industry, the manufacturing sector and transport are placed on a technical basis of large-scale production, the people and the economy will make a quantum leap into this millennium.

When this happens, a large slice will be torn away from the poverty block and there will be widespread improvement in the standard of living of all Guyanese.

In Guyana there are the land space and human resource, and as long as the proper infrastructure is put in place, investors, both local and foreign would flood these shores seeking opportunities to invest and drive the country forward.

Electrification of the entire country is only one gigantic step forward aimed at propelling the economy into vibrancy.

The programme starts in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) this year and will cover 10 areas. These include Number 36 Village, Bush lot Farm, Chesney, Kilkoy South, Fyrish Number One, Number 35 Village, Whim Village, Topoo, Belvedere Squatting Area and Sandvoort, West Canje and parts of Canefield, East Canje.

Consumers would readily pay $10,000 required for connection. This, to our mind, is not too much to ask as the cost of getting power to the people in those areas is very high, ranging from $40,000 to more than $200,000 per household in some instances.

This electrification programme is to be extended to Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and 10 where extensions of networks are feasible.

The Government of Guyana will contribute $4B, and the GPL $1B in the programme, while the government is negotiating a US$25M concessionary loan from the IDB to cover the cost of the programme.

We are sure that Guyanese are happy with the announcement as they know that they could look forward with hope that they will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This means the further development of the Guyanese people and the country as a whole.