RESIDENTS of New Forest, East Canje Berbice, are celebrating an historic milestone, as they will finally receive electricity for the first time ever, this year, just in time for the Christmas season.
This long-awaited development has brought immense excitement to the community, as the introduction of reliable electricity will improve daily life, enhance safety, and open up new opportunities for local businesses and education.

The timing of this achievement makes it even more meaningful, allowing residents to enjoy a brighter and more convenient holiday season.

On Saturday, Minister of Finance and Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh visited New Forest, where he met with the joyful residents. During his visit, Dr. Singh reflected on a meeting with the community earlier this year, when he learnt that the community had never been connected to the grid; an issue that deeply resonated with him, so much so that he shared his own experiences of growing up without reliable electricity.
“And so, when I came here this year and I heard the stories of families whose children were doing homework with lamp lights, I felt very strongly at the time that there is no place in today’s modern Guyana where you should have a significant population sufficiently close to the national grid without electricity,” he said.

According to Dr. Singh, knowing President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to the issue, he took immediate action, assuring the community that this government would bring electricity to New Forest. Following this, he had a discussion with the President, who had also discovered that several communities in the Upper Corentyne area, and Mara, East Bank Berbice, were without electricity.

“And the President instructed immediately that we should ensure those homes be given electricity,” he said.
According to Dr. Singh, President Ali told him to ensure that these three communities get electricity in the shortest possible time. “And I am delighted that we were able to achieve this instruction given by our President,” he said.

The residents of New Forest also expressed their immense joy at the prospect of having direct access to electricity. They shared that this development will significantly improve their daily lives, making tasks easier and more efficient.

For many, the arrival of electricity represents a major step forward in enhancing their quality of life, and some even noted that they have already completed the wiring of their houses, and are awaiting the connection.
Dr. Singh noted that after the wiring is completed, the Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) will work closely to ensure the certification, inspection, and connection are carried out, so that residents can “flip their switches in time for Christmas”.

He told the residents gathered, “I want to see some nice Christmas lights.”
Additionally, he noted that while the project is based on the delivery of electricity, there is a bigger picture.

“Our government’s principal objective; this People’s Progressive Party government led by Irfaan Ali, is to ensure that the lives of every single Guyanese, irrespective of where they live, are improved,” Dr. Singh said.
He explained that while the needs of different communities vary, the government continues to work around-the-clock to ensure that those needs are met.

Also present at the location on Saturday was Regional Vice-Chairman Zamal Hussain, who played a key role in ensuring the project was completed on time. His efforts were instrumental in making this long-awaited development a reality for the community.

Meanwhile, GPL officials on the ground provided Minister Singh with an update on Saturday; they stated that the project has been completed in Crabwood Creek, on the Upper Corentyne, while it is ongoing for Mara, on the Upper East Bank Berbice. The utility company has already secured the majority of the pole placements within Mara.