By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE festive season has just gotten brighter for the Wismar, Linden community of Prosville, and this will be the brightest December residents would experience within the last 15 years, as their homes are now glowing with electricity.
The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, has expended $24.6M on installing electricity in Prosville, and the overjoyed residents, at the simple commissioning ceremony on Thursday, were high in praise that one of their dreams has become reality.

These sentiments were expressed by chairman of the Prosville Community Development Council (CDC) Andrea Agard. In her brief remarks, which were made in the presence of both junior and senior Ministers of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Jaipaul Sharma, Agard reminisced on the dark days of Prosville and how the community suffered tremendously during this time without electricity.

Those who suffered the most were students and business persons. Agard said it was the Coalition government that made their dream a reality, and that Minister Patterson has stood by his word that the community will no longer be the Land of the Forgotten.
“After living in the community for more than 15 years, what we fought for all our existence has finally become a success… Honourable David Patterson, who promised us that we are not in the Land of the Forgotten and his promise is now a reality,” she said.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian posited that moves such as these reflect that the government does not stand on empty promises, especially to the local people, and is working towards the greater good for the greatest number and not for itself and cronies. “So we didn’t go and just put a big house in a place called Pradoville,” he said. “We looked to the ordinary people; those persons with needs. Step by step, brick by brick, we are working assiduously to make the needs of those persons fulfilled.” Morian said that with the community now lit, he is looking forward for better results from students at both the primary and secondary level.

A RIGHT
The project was facilitated by the Linden Electricity Incorporated (LEI), and its Chairman, Tracey Johnson, told residents that it is not a mere gift to the people, but it is their right that was given to them. He explained that the project cost millions of dollars, and it is just the beginning of the many good things that the community will benefit from when the Coalition government returns to office. “Promises are things of the past,” Johnson said, adding: “Whenever we see a situation and we say we are going to fix it, we fix it. We have given you light today; We will give you road and we will give you water.”

In his feature address, Minister Patterson highlighted that the project is not just a mere election gimmick, but was long in the making and that it is only now that the process, which started over a year ago, has come to fruition.

“That came as an instruction directly from the President to provide the good life for every citizen of this community. And Prosville, you are a good citizen and a good community and you do deserve this,” he said.

ONLY A START

The minister told the residents this is only a start, so they should remain optimistic, as massive infrastructural development will come to their community.

In fact, to loud applause, Patterson made a commitment to the residents to provide street lights for the Christmas season. The community presently sources water from stand pipes.
These transformations must occur, he said, since, with the construction of the Linden to Lethem Road, Prosville will become prime real-estate property, and many persons will be flocking there for both residential and commercial land, given it is in close proximity to the road. He encouraged the residents that while they must be their brother’s keepers, they must safeguard it from persons who are not willing to adhere to principles and practices of the CDC.

Municipal Councillor Norvil Fredericks related that now that Prosville is on the regularisation radar, it will be deemed a part of the municipality of Linden, and will benefit from all the services of a regularised community, such as drainage cleaning and garbage collection.
Prosville, the neighbouring Community to Andyville, is located in the One Mile Extension Area, and has approximately 300 households. It was established in 2004 with just a few families. Together, the residents fought for the provision of electricity and water. Andyville received electrification in March 2019.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Regional Vice-Chairman Elroy Adolph; representatives from the Linden Electricity Incorporated; the Linden Utilities Services Co-op Society (LUSCL); and regional and municipal councillors among other regional officials.