After being without electricity for close to a month, residents of the Mabaruma Sub-Region are planning to protest at the offices of the regional administration over the issue and other matters.
At the same time, the North West ferry, the MV Kimbia has not travelled to the area for close to a month and as a consequence, a new power generator is among items at the Kingston, Georgetown bond of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) awaiting transport to the region.
Region One Chairman Paul Pierre told Stabroek News today that efforts are being made to remedy the electricity problem this week. He said that the generating set at Mabaruma suffered an overheating problem and parts were sent to the city to be repaired. He said that the Regional Executive Officer, Nigel Fisher is looking into the problem in order to bring relief to the communities there.
Pierre noted too that the MV Kimbia had broken down several weeks ago and T&HD contacted him today and informed that the vessel should travel to the region by next week Tuesday.
He said that the region purchased the new generating set recently but there were problems “finding space“ on board the ferry to transport the item to the region several weeks ago.
He said that a tug and barge are expected to travel to the region sometime next week and the new piece of equipment would be transported at that time.
According to Mabaruma resident Donna Bowen, a delegation including several business persons, gathered in the community yesterday with the intention of meeting members of the regional administration to voice their concerns over the issues affecting them. However, the regional officials were said to be occupied while others were out of the region. She said those residents were awaiting “any form of information they can give us as to when things will return to normal”.
Stabroek News was told that the prices of commodities at shops and other businesses in the area have skyrocketed over the past two weeks. It was noted too that there was no kerosene at the main business places there. Residents, mainly those residing in the outlying areas, depend heavily on the fuel for their lamps as well as for cooking purposes.
At the same time, residents are relying on the services of their small generating sets and according to a resident, the price of fuel has since increased from $900 to $1200 per gallon. He said that persons have been complaining bitterly about the situation since no solution seemed to be on the horizon. At the moment, the prices of rice, sugar and other goods have almost doubled in the shops.
A Kumaka businessman told Stabroek News yesterday that a number of persons from the business community in the region have been affected by the situation since their goods are almost sold out. He said that earlier this week, residents were told that the ferry would travel to the region next Wednesday.
Last month during the 2012 Budget debate, Works Minister Robeson Benn told the National Assembly that the two North West ferries, the MV Kimbia and the MV Lady Northcote are expected to be dry-docked during the second half of this year. The MV Barima will ply the two routes while the two vessels are being repaired.
Residents of the NWD have been calling on the authorities to replace the two aged vessels which many noted have outlived their usefulness.
The MV Kimbia has experienced mechanical breakdowns on several occasions in recent times; it was forced to limp to and from the city on one engine on several occasions in recent years.
