Bartica, Linden stakeholders benefit from seminars on promoting safety in homes

GINA GUYANA, September 09, 2016

Contractors, importers, and distributors from the mining town of Linden and the township of Bartica recently benefitted from awareness seminars on safety measures when embarking on electrical installation (wiring) in buildings.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Electrical Engineer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI) division, Joseph Peters said that the seminars were carried out to promote safety in the homes and offices in Guyana.

Peters told GINA that the seminars in Linden and Bartica saw the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s GEI team of electrical engineers and technicians, representatives of the Linden Power company, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Guyana Power and Light Incorporated, and small businesses owners, and several council members in attendance.

The presentations were conducted by GEI’s Electrical Engineers, Stephen Williams, Peters and Hemraj Sanichara, of GNBS.

The participants were informed on the technical standard of the electricity sector and the regulations gazetted on January 22, 2016. The participants were also informed that that electrical items entering Guyana at the various ports will now have to be compliant with the approved electrical standard, Peters explained.

Peters pointed out that a list of codes for electrical items, materials and equipment including television sets, microwaves, refrigerators, and washing machines will be submitted to GNBS for inspection before approving importation.

Additionally the participants were encouraged to adhere to the regulations, since failure to follow them will result in severe penalties, Peters pointed out.

The participants were given the opportunity to voice issues affecting them.

The GEI is the electrical safety body within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure set up to protect electricity users against the hazard of unsafe and unsound electrical installation.

It is the Industry’s Electrical Safety regulatory body which inspects and certifies electrical installation to ensure that they are safe to operate and put into operation by GPL.

The seminar will head to Region Four shortly and will continue across the regions next year to ensure that safety is widespread, and that importers are properly informed and would adhere to the regulations.