RESIDENTS of the border village of White Water close to the Venezuela border, have expressed appreciation to the authorities after street lamps were installed in the village last week.

Reports are that 20 energy-efficient street lamps, which were donated by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), were installed around the remote village in the Mabaruma sub-region last week. The nearby community of Wauna also benefitted from the project and reports are that a similar number of lights were installed in that community.

White Water residents noted that the lights have illuminated more than 60% of the community. Residents noted, too, that the lights add to the development of the area.
Jairam Dhanraj, secretary of the village council, told the Guyana Chronicle that on Monday, the villagers cut the poles for the lights and on Tuesday and Wednesday, the villagers installed the devices via self-help. He said the GEA officials provided the manuals for the lights to be set up.

“We look at mostly the dark areas to place them,” he said, adding that 10 of the lights were placed in the central part of the village.

The village is cited as pivotal and since the economic situation in Venezuela took a turn in recent years, villagers were concerned about their safety. A Guyana Defence Force as well as a Guyana Police Force unit has since been placed at the village.