THE private sector of Japan has donated 120 solar lanterns to Guyana to improve the lives of students, teachers and pregnant women in the remote regions.
The lanterns from Panasonic Incorporated of Japan were handed over to the Ministries of Public Health and Education on Thursday.

Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan, Yoshinori Yakabe, in handing over the gifts, urged local stakeholders to make full use of the equipment.
Education Minister Nicolette Henry, said the lanterns are a welcomed contribution to meeting the needs of teachers and students of the hinterland communities.
Thirteen residential schools and centres in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine were selected by the ministry to receive the lanterns.

“Most of us here on the coastland take electricity and lighting for granted. With this donation, the ability to have light to do simple things, like read a book and do your homework will now be possible,” Henry said.

She praised the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Panasonic Incorporated for assisting the Ministry of Education in helping to improve education in the hinterland.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Health, Collette Adams said the lanterns would be beneficial to the health huts, health posts and centres in the hinterland communities.

“These lanterns will be equally shared within the communities that are without electricity,” she said.

As Panasonic Incorporated celebrates its 100th anniversary in Japan, UNDP representative Mikiko Tanaka said the company launched its “100,000 Solar Lanterns Project” which has now made its way to Guyana.

“This is an example of active engagement of Japan’s private sector in helping countries and communities around the world towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Tanaka said.

She noted that for the past year, 22 countries in Africa and Asia have received solar lanterns and that Guyana is the first country in South America and Central America to receive same.

The mobile lanterns are fitted with a small solar panel which charges the lantern during the day and provide four levels of lights. In six hours, the lantern reaches its full energy and if maintained well, it can last for up to five years.