…Regions 7, 8 and 10 next targeted for training
REGION 9 residents on Friday last completed a five-day training session by technicians from the Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister, dealing with installation and maintenance of the 65-Watt solar systems which will be distributed as soon as training for all stakeholders concludes. Technicians from the Unit will be dispatched to Regions 7, 8 and 10, from September 5, to conduct similar training sessions with residents of other Amerindian villages and clusters.
The training commenced on August 22, and saw technicians dispatched to Lethem, Shulinab, Karasabai, Annai and Aishalton to host training sessions simultaneously.
Government approved the procurement of approximately 11,000 systems which will be distributed to indigenous communities across the country.
Days one and two of the training saw participants being taught the theory as it pertains to the basics in electricity and the installation of points, whilst during days three to five they were trained in the practical aspects.
The initiative to conduct training sessions with residents of hinterland communities aims at empowering representatives from Amerindian villages and clusters to spearhead the installation of the solar home systems, which includes installing the panel itself on the outer part of the building and switches and bulbs internally.
The solar home system, which provides each home with power for lighting small household appliances, and to generate income, is part of government’s initiative to improve the standard of living and livelihood of those residing in Amerindian villages and clusters across the country.
To this end, government has significantly advanced the distribution of solar panels under the Hinterland Electrification Programme to ensure that hinterland communities benefit from electricity.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has distributed 574 solar panels to 16 Amerindian communities in Regions 1, 2 and 9, under the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme, which saw 1,750 hinterland homes benefiting from electricity.
This project plays a critical role in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability in Guyana, as it will rectify the long-pervading inequity by providing access to clean and renewable energy throughout hinterland communities, thereby contributing significantly to Guyana’s overall Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). In so doing, the savings from the accelerating cost of imported fuel and resultant reduction in energy costs will play an important role in the strategy to secure Guyana’s economic development.  (GINA)