THE Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has been distributing solar panels to Amerindian communities so as to further enhance the lives of Amerindians and to afford them similar privileges as persons residing on the Coastland.
Liaison Officer to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Norman Whittaker, noted that the solar panels are being provided through the Office of the Prime Minister under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme.
Whittaker emphasised that the Ministry has been tasked over the past year with the distribution of the 1,000 (15-watt) solar panels to 23 communities and to date 16 communities have received a total of 574 panels.
Some of the communities that benefited are: Four Miles and Hotoquai, Region One; Mashabo, Region Two; and Surama, Rupertee and Katoka, Region Nine.
He highlighted that the remaining 476 panels are for communities in Region Nine and arrangements are being put in place to have them delivered.
It was noted that the Ministry also purchases solar panels for communities under its Capital Programme.
The Ministry hopes that one of the major beneficiaries of electricity from the solar panels will be students in the areas of study and homework completion. (GINA)