IT was a happy day for residents of the New Amsterdam community of Angoy’s Avenue, also called Mount Sinai, on Thursday, when electricity, under the Unserved Areas Electrification Project (UAEP), became a reality.For the 400 households in Timmer’s, Patrick, and Levi Dam and other areas in Angoy’s Avenue, who were without electricity for decades, this project will drastically improve their lives.

Patricia, a resident of Timmer’s Dam, who has been living in the area for over 13 years, expressed happiness after she received electricity for the first time in her home. She said that for years she was living in darkness, and today thanks, to the Government, “there is light.”
Bibi Ally, who lived about 20 years in Angoy’s Avenue, also expressed gratitude to the Government for this life changing initiative.
“I’m very happy to get the electricity and I thank GPL for implementing this project. I must say a special thanks to the Government for all the things they would have done. I will benefit a lot, because before I could not have used a microwave, either a fridge, I had a solar that could have only pushed one light and the TV, so I am now very happy. Now I can afford to have a washing machine and a microwave,” Ally said. She further stated that it will also allow her to save money, since she will now be able to purchase her groceries in bulk and store in the refrigerator.
Prime Minster Samuel Hinds, Board Member of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), Carvil Duncan and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bharrat Dindyal, PPP/C Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally and Regional Chairman, Permaul Armogan were among officials gathered at the commissioning of this $16M project at Timmer’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue.
During 1966, Angoy’s Avenue was taken over by the People’s National Congress which at that time promised to establish a housing scheme, but failed to deliver. In 1992, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic took office, this community became Berbice’s largest squatting settlement, and thereafter the Government tried to regularise the area, but was blocked by the Co-operative society. However, it still managed to develop the area by providing critical drainage, water, roads health and education facilities.
Prior to the electrification programme, this community had the highest illegal connections, of about 99%. During December last year, GPL installed meters in 331 households, and applications are currently being processed for about 100 more.
In his address to residents, Prime Minister Hinds explained that when the Government took office in 1992, only 30% of the households in Berbice had electricity. Through the implementation of the UAEP, this situation has changed.
The Prime Minister explained that because of the issue with the co-operative society, Government was not allowed to do much for Agony’s Avenue, so this community could not have benefitted from this programme.

He further explained that during that time, the programme was supported by small loans, and while Guyana was readily provided with those loans from other countries, today it has developed to a place where it is no longer eligible for small grants and soft loans.
“So we have to find the resources. Had it not been for the situation with the co-op, this community would have benefitted from the inception of the programme. The world didn’t have electricity all the time; it is a process and we are developing because it is our desire that Guyanese have a steadily better life. It is we who have to build our country, and that is why our focus has been in education and health,” Prime Minister Hinds noted.
He urged the community to continue to collaborate with Government to further this development.
Meanwhile, Duncan told the gathering that providing electricity to every citizen is a priority for GPL. He said that despite the challenges, GPL stood by the residents of Angoy’s Avenue and ensured that the area was electrified.  Duncan urged them to pay their electricity bills and desist from stealing current.
MP Faizal Jaffarally also acknowledged the noticeable development in the community. He said that for too long the area has been stigmatised and he urged the community to work together to ensure its further development.
Meanwhile, Chairman Armogan noted that in every village or community, electricity is a necessity, “it is not a privilege, it is a right that everyone must enjoy”. He said that this will not only allow for persons to live better lives, but the business community will benefit, since residents will now be able to purchase electrical appliances.
Other villages electrified under the UAEP include Number 76, Fort Ordnance, Glasgow and Bath settlement on the West Coast Berbice.