As of Monday, residents of Lethem have only been receiving ten hours of electricity as a mechanical problem has developed in the new engine that was donated by the government last year to provide round-the-clock power.
Residents in the community said yesterday that they are now back in the same situation they were in last year with a skimpy power supply at their disposal. The generator that supplies the community with electricity broke down on Monday. Resident stated that up to yesterday, they were receiving five hours of power in the morning and another five in the afternoon. The ten hours of power is being provided by the old generator which does not have the capacity to supply the full quota.
A source close to the Lethem Power Company stated that the engine was down on Monday due to mechanical problems. The source also said that they were only able to identify the problem on Tuesday and as such they took the engine to Brazil for repairs on Wednesday because it is closer and cheaper.
The new part to solve the mechanical problem is expected to be finished by today but the source added that experts from Georgetown will have to travel up to instal it.
The mechanical problem is not a result of negligence on the part of the workers, the source stated while adding that these problems do arise from time to time.
As a result of the ongoing electricity problems, the water supply to nearby villages was also disrupted as immediately after power is cut off, the water goes too. Lethem residents have been complaining of experiencing insufficient amounts of electricity since last year due to the constant breaking down of the generator.
