THE government is still awaiting the release of the Norway funds to facilitate implementation of priority projects under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) but in the interim, it will be financing solar panel distribution for hinterland communities from the national treasury. This disclosure was made by President Bharrat Jagdeo while speaking to members of the media at a press conference at the Office of the President where he explained the rationale for such a decision.
“We have US$70M deposited in Guyana’s account. It is this nightmare to unlock it but, I can’t wait forever on these matters,” President Jagdeo said.
The procurement process, according to President Jagdeo followed the criteria of international regulations including an international public tender, evaluation and selection of bidders.
He is now hopeful that the process can move forward with retroactive financing as an offset and disclosed that a Danish contractor has won the bid for the project.
Although the hinterland communities are the principal targets, President Jagdeo disclosed that non Amerindian riverine communities also stand to benefit.
“When I was in places like Bartica, there are some communities that are not necessarily Amerindian but are not connected to the grid,” President Jagdeo said.
Cabinet – the council of ministers chaired by the President – had approved the procurement of up to 11,000 65W Solar Home Systems under the Hinterland Electrification Programme.
Recently the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs recently distributed 574 solar panels to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions One, Two and Nine through the Office of the Prime Minister under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme.
The Amerindian Affairs Ministry was tasked over the last year with distributing 1,000 (15-watt) solar panels to 23 communities and these 16 areas are the first beneficiaries.
Some of the communities that benefited are: Four Miles and Hotoquai, Region One; Mashabo, Region Two; and Surama, Rupertee and Katoka, Region Nine.
President Jagdeo had assured that priority projects under the revolutionary LCDS would have translated into reality this year when development partner Norway announced its readiness to release the second tranche of forest protection funds in March this year.
Among them are the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), improvements in the country’s the digital infrastructure, Amerindian community development and the construction of a world class Centre for Biodiversity at the University of Guyana.(GINA)