Gov’t to prioritise increased electricity hours for Mabaruma – Minister Bulkan
Written by GINA Editor, Published in Ministry of Communities, Georgetown, GINA, March 3, 2016, http://www.gina.gov.gy/home/in...ruma-minister-bulkan
The provision of extended hours of electricity for the Mabaruma sub-region, Region One is among the priorities for the administration, especially now that Mabaruma is slated for township status, according to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.
Minister Bulkan told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that currently the sub-region has access only six hours of electricity daily. “It is a priority of the administration to be able to provide much longer hours of electricity and in keeping with our green policy to get electricity from renewable sources,” he stated.
The Minister explained that there are several avenues being considered at the moment.
“There is the imminent UK/CIF (Caribbean Investment Fund) grants that would be explored to see whether alternative sources of renewable energy can be provided to our hinterland communities, to help reduce the cost of electricity, as well as to provide greater access to that vital commodity.”
Meanwhile, infrastructural works will be fast-tracked to facilitate the provision of essential services towards development in the sub-region. “There will be the provision of more government services and in line with the vision and decentralisation strategy of the administration, these services will be provided.”
The sum of $3B has been approved in the 2016 budget for infrastructural development across the regions, residents in these and other regions will benefit from improved government services in health, education and public infrastructure.
“Developmental issues are continuous and they don’t stop with one budgetary cycle into another and it is always necessary and invaluable to have a face to face interaction with residents,” the Minister explained, as he referred to his recent engagement with the residents of the sub-region.
Mabaruma is the administrative centre for Region One; it has a hospital, a police station and other essential services.
Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica have been gazetted for township. A fourth community, Mahdia is also earmarked to become a municipality but its status has been delayed due to the non-existent local government system. Following the March 18, 2016 local government elections, this system will be created in Mahdia.