Linden was without power last evening after a power station was hit by lightning during a thunderstorm.
The storm started sometime around 5pm yesterday and shortly after the entire town was plunged into darkness. While Wismar was totally without power, Mackenzie experienced several blackouts, and then low voltage for an hour before power went completely off.
When contacted, an official of the Bosai Power Plant said lightning had struck the main sub-station, which is located along the Washer Pond Road at Mackenzie, severing a transmission line.
A technical crew was on the ground working to rectify the situation, the official said. However, the crew’s efforts were delayed by the persistent rainfall and up to press time power was still to be restored.
Earlier in the day, sections of Mackenzie were without power for more than three hours, but an explanation for the situation was not forthcoming.
Stabroek News was assured that the problem had no connection with a shortage of fuel, since provision was made to ensure that there is always sufficient fuel stocked at the Washer Pond Power generating plant. There were no reports of any other damage or serious flooding around the community as a result of the heavy rains.
The rains and power outages did not deter residents participating in the ongoing protests in the town, which entered its twenty-second day. Instead, the protest was strengthened as a result of two public meetings held the night prior. Residents were urged to stand their ground until their demand for the withdrawal of the electricity tariff hike for the town was met.
In the midst of the storm, large crowds of residents were seen maintaining their posts, especially at the Wis-mar end of the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge and at the two key blocks at Amelia’s Ward. At camps set up, there were hot meals for those holding the blockades and others involved in the protest.
In a show of solidarity, over 60 residents travelled from Ituni for the past two days and joined protestors at Wismar and Mackenzie. They said that the issues affecting Linden equally affects them, hence their desire to physically join the protest. “We will be coming down every day if need be, because this is a struggle for all of us in Region 10,” said a resident, who declined to be named.
