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RESIDENTS of some East Coast Demerara communities are expressing outrage at Guyana Power and Light (GPL) for disconnecting and confiscating street lights in certain areas after these were purchased as a self-help community initiative for security reasons. Workers were seen over the weekend removing lamps in the Lusignan area while angry residents tried in vain to get their lights back.
The residents claim that the workers have been entering areas and taking down lights and carrying them away without informing them.
Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at Lusignan, Mr. Ayube Mohammed, had informed residents at a recent outreach that the GPL workers had been asked to do so by the relevant authorities and so they cannot be prevented from carrying out such actions.
Yesterday the rather vociferous residents declared that they are not so mindful of the lights being disconnected but they resent GPL carrying them away when they were not purchased by the power company, adding that such action is blatantly unfair.
The residents are maintaining that these lights were installed for security reasons and more importantly, as a neighbourhood, they had put funds together out of their own pockets to purchase the lanterns for their areas.
Many citizens expressed concern about their lights being taken away, leaving their street corners and other areas in total darkness.
According to the Chairman, the NDC has to pay $3,500 per light on a monthly basis and this is not acceptable as these lights are left on day and night and consume excessive electricity.
However, residents are maintaining that most of the lights that they have paid for and installed have been provided with censors which automatically go off during the day so as to conserve electricity.
This publication was informed that a few weeks ago, some residents went into the GPL head office and demanded their lights but they were tuned away after being told that the lights will be kept by the company.
Businessmen are claiming that they have taken money out of their pockets to purchase not only one but several lights for their streets and neighbourhoods and these lights came complete with censors.
One businessman said that it has been only six months now since he purchased these lights and shortly after, GPL workers turned up and took them away without informing him.
The residents are asking that their lights be returned to them as it is a very necessary form of protection at nights and they have reached an agreement to subscribe in order to pay for the lights themselves on a monthly basis.
Meanwhile, Mohammed has promised residents to set up a meeting where this matter will be further discussed with GPL and the residents.
The residents claim that the workers have been entering areas and taking down lights and carrying them away without informing them.
Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at Lusignan, Mr. Ayube Mohammed, had informed residents at a recent outreach that the GPL workers had been asked to do so by the relevant authorities and so they cannot be prevented from carrying out such actions.
Yesterday the rather vociferous residents declared that they are not so mindful of the lights being disconnected but they resent GPL carrying them away when they were not purchased by the power company, adding that such action is blatantly unfair.
The residents are maintaining that these lights were installed for security reasons and more importantly, as a neighbourhood, they had put funds together out of their own pockets to purchase the lanterns for their areas.
Many citizens expressed concern about their lights being taken away, leaving their street corners and other areas in total darkness.
According to the Chairman, the NDC has to pay $3,500 per light on a monthly basis and this is not acceptable as these lights are left on day and night and consume excessive electricity.
However, residents are maintaining that most of the lights that they have paid for and installed have been provided with censors which automatically go off during the day so as to conserve electricity.
This publication was informed that a few weeks ago, some residents went into the GPL head office and demanded their lights but they were tuned away after being told that the lights will be kept by the company.
Businessmen are claiming that they have taken money out of their pockets to purchase not only one but several lights for their streets and neighbourhoods and these lights came complete with censors.
One businessman said that it has been only six months now since he purchased these lights and shortly after, GPL workers turned up and took them away without informing him.
The residents are asking that their lights be returned to them as it is a very necessary form of protection at nights and they have reached an agreement to subscribe in order to pay for the lights themselves on a monthly basis.
Meanwhile, Mohammed has promised residents to set up a meeting where this matter will be further discussed with GPL and the residents.
