By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

FOR decades, residents at the back of Number 68 Village, Corentyne, lived in darkness—relying on solar power and makeshift solutions to meet their daily needs. However, their long wait is finally over as the long-anticipated installation of electrical poles and wiring has begun, bringing a wave of joy and relief to the community.

The process to electrify the area, which will benefit more than 50 residents, began after Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, visited the community in November last year and heard, firsthand, about their struggles. Some residents had been without electricity for over 30 years. Recognising the urgency of the situation, Hussain immediately took action, setting the wheels in motion to address their plight.

Last Friday, he returned to meet with residents and assess the progress of the project. With electrical poles now firmly planted and wiring being installed, residents are counting down the days until their homes are powered for the first time.
Among them is Babita Gangaram, a mother of four who has lived in the area for 15 years. Expressing her excitement, she shared, “Me get four children, two go start high school and me get two other one going primary.”
She recalled the initial meeting with Hussain at Freedom House, where he assured them that he would look into the matter. While he could not promise a timeline at the time, his commitment to resolving the issue never wavered.
Now, with the project in full swing, Gangaram is overjoyed. “When we see them putting pole, we so happy, we so happy about it. We just waiting now to get it, and we thank all body who help us,” she said with a smile.

Another resident, who had long given up hope of ever receiving electricity, expressed his gratitude for the intervention. “We so glad for this. Every time we asking, but the Vice Chairman really work with us.”
For Lilowattie Bissoon, 56, the project is life-changing, especially for the children who need proper lighting to study. “We feel really good about this because we get children a go to high school so them can use the current to read and do them work.”
Bissoon also pointed out the challenges of relying on solar power, particularly on cloudy days when it becomes unreliable.

“The solar when sun na come out plenty, it a go down, so we glad to get this thing now. We na got to worry about solar after that.”
With the final stages of installation expected to be completed within a month, the residents of Number 68 Village are finally seeing the light at the end of a long and frustrating journey. Their community is on the brink of transformation, thanks to persistent advocacy and the government’s commitment to improving lives in rural areas.