The West Ruimveldt area between Sunflower and Cactus streets remained without electricity yesterday for a third day running, and nearly 500 households are affected, including legitimate customers.
And despite a promise late Friday afternoon by Director of Commercial Services at GPL, Kesh Nandlall, residents told this newspaper that no crews had visited the area to reconnect the legitimate customers.
Several attempts to make contact with Nandlall for a comment on the situation yesterday were futile.
When Stabroek News visited the area yesterday midday, things were calm but evidence of the protest the previous day was still visible on the roadways and the smell of burnt tyres filled the area.
One resident told this newspaper that they haven’t received any light and no GPL crew has visited the area. The resident said too that “we still waiting fuh we light.”
Since the power supply was disconnected by GPL, residents in the area have raised their voices in the street vowing not to be silenced until electricity is restored to their homes.
It all started on Thursday afternoon when residents blocked roads and burnt tyres in retaliation for what they said was the wrongful disconnection of the area’s power supply by the GPL.
Police came out in their numbers to try to control the situation but residents still continued to block roadways with debris. Old tyres, dry grass, newspaper, and kerosene were used to start a blaze on Mandela Avenue, sending thick columns of smoke into the air.
After several minutes, members of the Guyana Fire Service were able to put the fire out.
Close to 500 households in West Ruimvelt between Sunflower and Cactus streets are without electricity as a result of the disconnection, which occurred when fuses from a transformer that supply that area were removed.
Law enforcement authorities managed to get the situation under control but several hours later the residents acted up again. Around 8 pm fires were lit and roads were blocked as the residents continued to sound a call for what they termed justice and the immediate restoration of light to the area.
The unrest continued on Friday with residents setting fires on Mandela Avenue and Cactus Street, causing a build up of traffic. However the police and the fire department worked hand in hand and managed to get the situation under control.
In response to the action by residents, GPL has said that this disconnection is part of a massive countrywide campaign to recoup huge arrears.
In making specific reference to the West Ruimveldt area, the power company said that 85% of residents there are receiving power and not paying for it.
Nandlall had told Stabroek News on Friday that the company cannot disconnect effectively because everyone in that area was feeding on each other. He had said that in order to solve this problem the network will have to be reconstructed and he assured this newspaper that in the meantime the company has every intention of reconnecting the legitimate customers.
He said that 267 households in the area owe about $80M and the arrears are over $50,000 in each case. In all that area owes GPL about $120M, Nandlall had told this newspaper.
The customers in this area who are in arrears can call the company on 227-3723 and someone will be able to speak to them about paying the outstanding sums.
