RESIDENTS of the upper Mahaica River villages of Kunaballi, Gold Hill, Fund Out, Acquero and Warimia have been the latest recipients of solar panels under Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The five villages are located some 56 miles up the Mahaica River, and the installation of 43 panels was done a little over two weeks ago, Toshao Luke Simon disclosed Monday.
The panels are generating 65 watts of electricity which lights up two bulbs and provides enough left over to play a small radio or other small electrical appliance, a source involved in the project disclosed.
“Residents in each of the 43 homes now have lights and enough electricity for a small appliance thereby enjoying a marked improvement in the quality of life in these villages, given their remoteness and what previously prevailed,” Simon said.
The villages are located around St. Cuthbert’s Mission, itself, located on the left bank of the Mahaica River, some 63 miles from its estuary and which had generator supplied electricity.
The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) project has to date installed solar home systems in 10,500 Amerindian households for about 135 Amerindian communities.
The programme covers all components of the solar system, including installation costs, transportation, wiring, light fittings, maintenance and management training.

The programme is being executed by the Project Management Office, Office of the President, acting as Co-ordinator, with the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for procurement and monitoring activities with support from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
Residents from each village have been trained to maintain the systems and they are all required to pay a monthly contribution to a fund managed by the village council for maintenance services.