– three rural communities benefit from pilot projects

WITH a population of 775 persons, Shulinab (also known as ‘Macushi Village’) an Amerindian community in South-Central Rupununi, Region Nine, has increased its economic activities through the intervention of a Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) pilot project.

Shulinab is located on the main South Savannah road about 35 miles south of Lethem and about 12 miles south-east of Parikwarinawa village.

The Macushi Village primary economic activities are fishing, tourism, livestock, fruit-processing and craft-production.

The GEA is currently providing technical support to the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) Energy Project, which seeks to implement pilot/demonstration sustainable energy initiatives in three rural communities in Guyana.

The Macushi Village has received four solar PV systems totalling 1960 Watts Peak, six solar powered freezers, two energy efficient wood stoves and two solar dryers under the project.

Funded by the Canadian Government, the project, titled ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Renewable Energy Project’, seeks to enhance and accelerate productivity in the rural communities of Shulinab (Region Nine), Powaikoru (Region One) and Moraikobai (Region Five), through the use of renewable energy technology.

Public Communications Officer, Taiwo Williams, said the pilot projects were defined on the basis of the communities’ requirements (demand-driven) with focus on generating new income as a condition for sustainability.

“This was facilitated by a team of engineers from GEA along with an OLADE consultant, who visited each of the communities to assess what possible projects exist within each village that were sustainable in nature and would further be enhanced through the use of renewable technology,” she said.

She said that the information gathered from the assessment includes discussions with the Toshaos and representatives from different village groups and this will be used to tailor the projects to the needs of each community.
“Based on the assessment conducted, it was realised that there was need for refrigerators to store meat, processed fruits and perishable items for the ‘hot meals’ programme that benefitted about 36 students on a daily basis. Given that one of the village’s main economic activity was fruit-processing, the need for energy-efficient dryers and stoves was also recommended,” Ms. Williams noted.

Having recently completed the last of the installations, she said the GEA visited Shulinab and learnt that the project had significantly benefitted the village.

Ms. Joan Stevens, who is in charge of the ‘Hot Meals’ programme and snackette, indicated that they were extremely grateful for the solar PV system that her group received and the solar-powered freezer.

“Since we received it, we have been able to add items to the list of things we sell. We now offer icicles, custard, cool down and ice,” she said.

Ms. Stevens further enthused that they were also able to “… offer meat balls and patties as they now had somewhere to store the meat.”

Given that one of the objectives of the project was the generation of new income, GEA’s officers were interested in finding out whether this objective was achieved.

To this end, Ms. Stevens eagerly displayed her accounting ledger and explained that “…because of the additional items we now offer, we have been able [to] double our profits. Prior to receiving the PV system and freezer we used to make $20,000-$25,000 profit per month, now we make $45,000-$50,000 per month,” she said proudly.

Further, in order to generate even more income, they have recently used some of the profits they made to add a stationery section to the canteen.

The additional profits, also allowed them to employ three women and they are seeking to employ a fourth: “Someone skilled in pastry-making as we want to further broaden the list of items we are offering in the snackette to generate even more income.”

She said that the icicle, cool down and custard are a hit with the children and even some adults, so each day’s supply was usually sold out “…which means that at the end of each day we have to make a fresh set.”

Stepping over to the village office, which also serves as the meat centre, Mr. Calvan Josey who operates the centre had a similar account as that of Ms. Stevens.

He indicated that the Village Council had 200 heads of cattle while the village had about 600. Expressing how much the village has benefitted from the PV system and freezer, he explained that they used to slaughter once a month…so villagers only got fresh meat once a month.”

He further explained that whatever meat was left they would have to pickle or salt. “Because of the freezer, villagers can get fresh meat to purchase all the time as we can now store the meat in the freezer.” According to Mr. Josey, since the installation of the PV system and freezer, they have recorded sales totalling $1,043,000.

Energy Engineer Brian Constantine, GEA’s representative on the project, explained that part of the sustainability component of the project includes each group being required to pay a subscription fee of $15,000 per month to the Village Council.

“This fee will be used to sustain the equipment that the village has received. Therefore, should any repairs be needed for either the PV systems or refrigerators, the council would have money to facilitate those repairs”, he explained.
The women’s group which received two solar freezers, a solar PV system, two energy-efficient stoves and two solar dryers, indicated that though they have used the freezers for storage of ice, icicle and beverages, in October when the fruits that they process are in season, they will commence full use of the items they have received.

It is hoped that the projects would serve as an enhancement of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by fostering interest and support from Guyana’s private sector in replicating, advancing and/or expanding the project (s) based on the outcomes and experiences.

Thanks were showered on OLADE, the Canadian Government and the GEA on behalf of the Toshao Nicholas Fredericks, who was away on business at the time of the GEA’s visit. The project will continue to be monitored by representatives of all the stakeholders involved to ensure that there is continued compliance with the objectives.