THE private sector in Guyana can provide support for the electrification of remote hinterland communities out of a sense of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
This is the premise of a project funded by Latin-American Energy Organization (OLADE) and being implemented by the Barbadian Consulting Firm Atom Solutions Inc. and local EMPRETEC in collaboration with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The project aims at providing solar electrification for remote communities through sponsorships of services or direct financing by the local private sector and even private individuals, it was disclosed during a seminar on CSR yesterday at Cara Lodge Georgetown.
The presenters were Dr. Erwin D Edwards, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atom Solutions Incorporated and Mr. Corwin Hunte of EMPRETEC.
Dr Edwards acknowledged yesterday that 75% of the homes in the hinterland have access to electricity either from generators or from solar systems provided by the Hinterland Electrification Unit (HEU) of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). He said that the remaining 25% are also being dealt with through the OPM.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES
He then clarified that with this OLADE-backed project, the targets for electrification in the communities will not be the homes of individuals but specifically the shared facilities in these communities such as the community center or the central area where the residents can gather and do craft work at nights or watch movies – facilities that serve entire the entire community.”
“This is what is now needed,” he said, adding that the form of electricity to be provided was solar power not intended for heavy use such as powering industrial equipment but for contributing in some additonal way to improved quality of life of the villagers at the community level.”
The idea of seeking the direct and financial assistance of the local private sector has been supported by OLADE as a form of international assistance for the challenges facing Guyana with respect to electrifcation of the hinterland.
OLADE will give a large percentage of the money required for these types of projects but wants local partners, local commitment, particularly from the local private sector, hence the move to get the participation of the private sector or “Corporate Guyana”, Edwards said.
“CSR is the tool that we are trying to use; we are trying to get the involvement of local companies based on their desire of wanting to help; of wanting to be charitable; of wanting to give back to their fellow Guyanese even though the act has no obvious financial benefits for them,” Edwards said.
He disclosed that the seminar yesterday marked the conclusion of the first phase of the programme for electrification of hinterland communities using CSR.

CSR MODEL
“We have developed a CSR model that may fit Guyana ; identified corporations that will be potential partners; contacted companies interested in expressing CSR; have identfied costs, held discussions with the MOAA, OPM etc! and have identified three communities for pilot projects.”
The three communities identified as prototypes are Powaikuru in Region 1 (Barima/Waini), Kangaruma in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Shulinab in Region 9 (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takutu). These projects will cost approximately US$50,000 each.
Edwards said that the second phase of the project, now about to commence, will involve actually acquring direct financing or provision of services from the local private sector to get the three projects on the road.
He said that once this support is forthcoming at least one should get started by the end of this year with implementation being done by the HEU of OPM.
He added too that these three were the first and that services will be provided for other remote hinterland communities once the local private sector gets fully involved in supporting the initiative.

CSR in WI CRICKET
Hunte said that good examples of CSR at work was the support to the West Indies Cricket Board by companies such as DIGICEL, Cable and Wireless CARICOM and others to ensure that West Indies cricket continued to be successful.
The support of Kiddies Cricket by Scotia Bank was another good example of CSR at work.
He said: “Where we are now is that we are looking for firms to sponsor communities; to come on board and make some commitments. They don’t need to fund an entire project they can fund to the extent that the company can afford to contribute,” Hunte said.
OLADE is an international public entity of cooperation, coordination and advising. Its fundamental purpose is integration, protection, conservation, defence and rational use of energy resources of the Region. Guyana is a member of OLADE
EMPRETEC is a United Nations programme established to promote the creation of sustainable small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs
EMPRETEC Guyana is the implementing agency for interacting with Corporate Guyana to follow-up with sponsorship for the unique hinterland electrification programme.
The project will also look at communities which may be close to rivers and waterways which can provide water for hydropower and the feasibility of providing such facilities.

(By Clifford Stanley)