Dear Editor,
I WRITE to inform readers about the current difficulties being experienced by residents of the Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme, located in Corentyne, Region 6, about ½ a mile from the Albion Estate.I have visited many housing schemes in Guyana, including those at Mocha and Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, and my favourite is the one I live in — Kilcoy/Chesney. It is imaginatively laid out, with organic bends and cul-de-sacs, and the roads are wide and comfortable for two-lane vehicular traffic. Living here, however, is a challenge for residents, because we are without electricity. At the moment I am in possession of a petition for electrification from 50 individuals residing here. That number represents 50 families, many with school-going children and students at UG.

In the entire scheme, there are only two houses (out of an approximate 100) that are electrified, fortunate in that they lie on the edges of the scheme in proximity to power lines, and that they can afford to pay GPL the costs for the connecting posts and lines.

In the span of close to two years, we, the residents, have queried, probed and pleaded with various officials for electrification, but to no avail, we are presented with excuses and challenges to be “pioneers”. I daresay the age of pioneers has long gone, we live in the age of the 9-to-5, and electricity is required to press the uniforms, get the homework done, preserve the market produce, charge the cell phones, and a myriad of other basic needs.

We need electricity for security purposes and to survive in our daily lives. I have spoken to GPL officials, and their response is that the scheme is not “handed over”. I have no idea what that means, but housing officials claim the opposite, and say that GPL is unwilling because the required occupancy level has not been reached.

I can show at least two other housing schemes in the area that have a much lesser occupancy level but are fully electrified. I will cite an example that indicates it is more a lack of will than a lack of financial incentive for us not being electrified. There is an NGO funded by the Government of Japan located in the middle of the housing scheme, which was willing to stand the cost of planting ten or however many posts were required to get electricity to the NGO’s site. In spite of this opportunity of being able to profit from the investment of the Japanese people, GPL completely ignored the NGO. From that infrastructure, at least 20 residents in the path of the power lines would have been able to latch on and receive power.

There are many houses built and left because of the lack of electricity. Whether GPL electrifies the Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme now or 10 years down the road, it’s the same money that will have to be spent to provide the necessary infrastructure; and 10 years down the road, they will have missed all the income they could have made during that time.

I have spoken to Prime Minister Nagamotoo during one of his visits to Corentyne, and he referred me to his assistant for the Corentyne area, Hemraj Something-or-other. Conversations with Hemraj by me and other residents of the scheme go on the lines of a pro-government tangent, campaigning for an already won election and not at all being receptive to the needs of the people. These people are paid by tax payers’ dollars, and I believe they should have as the number one item on their agenda the interests of the people, not party activism.

I don’t know exactly with whom the responsibility of discharging this matter lies, but I have spoken to Region 6 RDC Chairman Mr Armogan; the senior housing official of the area, Ms. Harripersaud; and parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud, with no results. Not a single government or GPL official has visited the area and addressed our concerns.

Perhaps we continue to be ignored because we are the ordinary peasants, and do not cast a large enough shadow.

Your sincerely,
YOGISTRA ANDERSON