— Big Biaboo to get electricity and new access bridge in 2021

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar on Sunday visited Little Biaboo in the Mahaica Creek, where he informed residents of the developmental projects government has in the works for the community.

The provision of electricity to the residents of Little Biaboo and Big Biaboo is at the top of the list. Since establishment, these communities have been without electricity.
The minister explained that the push to have electricity installed comes following a petition by the residents asking President Irfaan Ali for some assistance in remedying the situation. He said that after receiving this information, President Ali responded swiftly.

Minister Indar told the residents that the government is cognisant of the importance of electricity, especially during this period where the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted operation of the day-to-day lives of all Guyanese, including the way people work, and the way children access education.
He informed that it was with this in mind that the government decided to work with urgency to provide the residents of the two communities with electricity.

Further, Minister Indar explained that while some of the residents have their solar systems that they use to power their homes and places of business, it is not a sustainable venture. He referenced the high cost of solar panels and generators, saying that this could significantly increase the cost of living of residents, and that this move by the government will lower that cost.
“What we have here now is an intervention. I am here with the Deputy CEO of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), and we are committed to providing electricity to the area that is out right now. Some of the residents have their solar systems, but that can only take them so far; it cannot run all day. So, we are going to work to ensure that these residents have access to electricity to their homes, so that we can ease that pressure they may have in paying for electricity,” he said.

Residents were told that the Ministry of Public Works is committed to collaborating with GPL, in an effort to provide the residents with ease and a better experience, since it is understood that they have been suffering for a significant amount of time, given the lack of this basic service.
Minister Indar informed that the Ministry is also looking to provide street lights to the residents, so as to address the security issue the residents had highlighted.
Additionally, the minister spoke about the deplorable state and underutilisation of the community’s Health Centre. The Health Centre, according to the residents, has been abandoned for some time. It was left without any medical supplies or even medical personnel.

Minister Indar stressed on the need for residents to have access to medical assistance within their community, and not having to travel for over an hour to Georgetown to access same.
“Twelve hundred people cannot be subject to having no access to health services, so that has to be addressed. We have to look into having medical professionals coming in here to tend to the residents if they have any health issues or concerns,” he said.

TIMELY RESPONSE
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Vickchand Ramphal lauded the government’s quick response to the plight of the residents. He highlighted that he had contacted the previous government to get the electricity issue dealt with, but had not receive a positive response.

He stated that he is of the view that the timely response will provide the residents with a level of relief, as many of them do not have access to electricity at all, and are the ones who have been spending large amounts of money to get it.

Deputy CEO of GPL, Sararoo Ramtahal stated that the electricity company will begin conducting investigations to determine the best way forward to bringing electricity to the people of Little Baiboo. He said he will pay keen attention to the project, and will ensure this project that has the special attention of the president is done in the most efficient and effective manner.
The residents who were present at the meeting with the Minister engaged him, and expressed appreciation for the government’s favourable response.
One resident, Deo Achan, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle stated that he is happy for the government’s intervention at this time. “We used to punish, not having light, so I glad now we gon get it, ‘cause if we get a function or something, you gotta use light. Fridge and suh… How we gon do that without electricity? So we gotta go now and spend extra money fuh get these things, and it’s very costly,” he related.

Achan added that he is happy that the cost he along with other residents would have had to pay to get a generator or solar- powered electricity will be significantly reduced.
Additionally, he stated that use of the solar panels is sometimes difficult, especially in the rainy season, when there isn’t enough sunlight available to power them.
Another resident told the Guyana Chronicle that he personally believes it is going to be very beneficial. The resident explained that the high cost of equipment needed for everyday use puts extreme pressure on the residents. He stated that a solar freezer could cost $400,000, and the maintenance has a hefty price tag.

BIG BIABOO
Following his visit to Little Baiboo, Minister Indar travelled to Big Biaboo, the neighbouring community.

In Big Biaboo, the minister made an assessment of the main access bridge that connects the two communities which are separated by the Mahaica Creek.
According to the residents, the bridge was constructed some 15 years ago, and is currently in an unsafe state; for years no maintenance work was done.
Minister Indar, in response, said that from the assessment conducted, although not comprehensive, it is easily noticeable that the bridge is not safe for use by vehicles carrying significant weight.

He stated that the issue was raised by the residents of Big Biaboo, since the main activity for the community is rice farming. He added that the entire crop cultivation in the community is about 1000-1200 acres of rice.

Accordingly, the minister said that the state of the bridge is not just negatively affecting the movement of the rice crops from the farms to the millers, but it is preventing developmental works in the community. Vehicle owners would be taking a high risk transporting building materials over the bridge, he said.

“This bridge is a safety risk; it has been totally neglected. It is a critical bridge for the farmers in the community, and the residents have to traverse here daily. Additionally, there are persons who have their house lots here in Big Biaboo, and there is no way vehicles can pass here with any building materials. And seeing that this bridge is the only access point to Big Biaboo, our Government will look to address it with urgency,” he said.

Minister Indar explained that while no allocation was made in the 2020 emergency budget for the project to repair the bridge, the 2021 Budget should see a provision for this major project that would best serve the residents of Big Baiboo.