‘From darkness, to light’
—Single mother among dozens to get electricity for the first time
DPI, Guyana, Monday, February 3, 2020
A good life means different things for different people.
For the first time in her life, Samantha Salvador, a single mother of a 7-year-old boy can turn on a light switch in her home. To her, this is one large step on her path to a better life.
Salvador related to DPI her gratitude and revealed a few plans for her son now that he has electricity access for the first time in his life. “Five years I am living here and I’m so happy that I got light so my baby could study and just enjoy it. I could buy a TV for him, I’m so glad, thank you guys,” an overwhelmed Salvador said
Most of the residents in that section of Brickery, East Bank Demerara have been living in the community for decades without water and electricity, a reality that has been changed recently.
Through the intervention of Hon. Minister Simona Broomes, who conducted a community outreach in late January in Supply, Brickery and Land of Canaan, the fifteen households now have easier access to a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Marvin Welcome, a resident of 20 years expressed his appreciation to the coalition government and Minister Broomes for delivering on a promise.
“I’ve been trying [to get electricity] for the past years but I just kept getting turned down…my kids have to do homework and I found it very hard …without this today, I don’t know, like we would have been in darkness for the rest of our life,” Welcome reflected.
It was revealed that other areas in the Brickery/Supply area will soon receive clean, potable water and electricity with some areas in Support and Relief already benefitting from the January interventions.
Another resident, Sean Pickering who has been living in the community for over 25 years revealed that it has been challenging the entire time. This all changed for him when President Granger who regularly passes his community decided to intervene.
Minister Simona Broomes explained that helping average Guyanese with ‘the little things’ helps keep her going.
“I came here [because] I was asked by the President to look at some communities and I ended up at the back here…when I heard the situation, that there was no water, no electricity, [I had to help],” Minister Broomes said.
Noting the care and concern President David Granger has for citizens, the Minister explained that she has listened to the concerns of residents and enlisted Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated’s CEO Albert Gordon to provide electricity for them.
Quincy Welcome relayed that under the previous administration, many promises were made that never came to fruition in 23 years. “We are very happy with the way things are going now,” Welcome added.
Minister Broomes also disclosed that as of today, GPL has abolished the long-standing policy that prevented citizens from setting up first connections because they did not have a National Identification Card. Now, potential customers can access new connections with any form of legal identification.
Focusing on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 which emphasize good health and well-being along with the provision of clean water and sanitation, the coalition government, along with support from GPL and GWI has been in action, working towards 100 percent coverage in water and electricity coverage both on the coast and in the Hinterland.