A fluctuating electricity supply and constant blackouts in Lethem over the past week have left many residents fuming and equipment damaged, in some cases.
Reports out of the Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) community yesterday stated that the problem began over a week ago after the major generator in the community failed. It was repaired but an erratic power supply ensued. Expressing their frustrations yesterday, residents said that the Lethem Power Company (LPC) had not said one word to them regarding the problem being experienced. For yesterday, this newspaper was told, the power went off six times while there are also periods of “low voltage”. The constant “low voltage” as opposed to the blackouts is causing damage to equipment, residents reported. It was not possible to contact a representative of the LPC yesterday though Executive Director, John Fredericks, who has resigned but was asked to stay on the job, had previously refused to make a comment to this newspaper. Calls to the LPC office after hours yesterday went unanswered.
“It dies down and suddenly come back on again”, businessman Don Melville said of the electricity supply. Melville, who runs a vehicle workshop, said his compressor was damaged yesterday as a result of the erratic electricity supply. He noted that the motor for the compressor was damaged and a new one has to be purchased. It costs about $30,000, he stated. The businessman said that practically nothing can be done in the absence of the compressor noting that it is used in vulcanizing and washing, among other uses. When he spoke with Stabroek News after 5 pm yesterday, he said that there was a blackout on at that time. He further stated that two freezers have not been working properly and are hardly freezing. He noted that the low voltage is damaging the equipment as opposed to the blackouts. “If you got a problem, just shut the thing down and let people know”, he said.
Meantime, another businessman, Alfred Ramsaran said that he was forced to use his generator after the power supply became unstable. He said at peak hours, there would be low voltage and some wires were damaged. There has also been load shedding and the power company has not told residents anything. “We are concerned”, he stated.
Another resident noting the “on and off” power said that the power company ought to inform people. “They suppose to have better public relations”, he said noting that the community was growing and the “blackout situation ain’t nice”.
The residents stated that there was no one at the power company to hear their complaints and it was pointed out that several members of the LPC board, reportedly including the Chairman, reside in Georgetown. As a result, the travelling for Board meetings is likely to erode the financial position of the board, one resident asserted. It was pointed out that there is no electrical engineer on site at Lethem and according to reports, one was supposed to have been deployed to the area though it was not clear whether he arrived yesterday.
It was also stated that whenever the electricity is cut, the water flow through the pipes stops. Further, it was pointed out that the water, while it is clear, leaves a heavy “crust” in the containers. One resident suggested that a trestle with a large tank be constructed so that water can flow at any time or alternatively, water can be sourced from Moco-Moco, which is at a higher elevation that Lethem. It was also noted that a couple of years back, the Brazilians had offered to facilitate the sourcing of electricity from the Guri Dam in Venezuela for Lethem, but this offer, made by the Head of the Chamber of Commerce in Roraima State, who said that he had been told by the Roraima Governor to convey this to the Guyanese, was never acted upon.
“Everyone kind of frustrated… uncertain about power”, one resident said.
On May 21, three days after the generating set at Lethem broke down; power was finally restored to major businesses in the border community. It has been the practice that whenever the major generator in the community breaks down, the larger businesses would be completely disconnected from the power grid.
One resident yesterday noted that a new generator has been promised to the community but this is yet to materialize. In his 2009 Budget speech, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said that $41 million has been budgeted for the purchase of a generating set and transformer for the LPC.
Residents in the border town have long complained of an unreliable electricity supply and six years after rain and mudslides put the Moco-Moco Hydro-electricity plant out of commission, power in the community remains problematic.
Lethem is one of the villages to be transformed into towns and is the key point for trade with Brazil. The Takutu Bridge linking the two countries has been completed but is yet to be officially opened. Residents on the Guyana side of the bridge have frequently stated that the infrastructure in the community needs substantial upgrading
