Food for the Poor (FFP) Guyana last week Thursday distributed solar panels packages to 150 households in Region Six that were not connected to the national electricity grid.
The donation was made after Alex Foster, President of St Francis Community Developers engaged Region Six Chairman David Armogan and Vice Chairman Bhopaul Jagroo on the issue. Residents were overjoyed to receive the packages as the panels will allow them to save money on fuel for generators while providing electrical lights.
The communities that benefited from the project are Mara, Plegt Anker, Highbury and Lighttown, East Bank of Berbice and New Forest East, Canje, Berbice. Other communities that have benefited from the project are Baracara, Canje River and Swan villages along the Soesdyke Linden Highway and White Water village in Region One.
Project Coordinator Andrea Benjamin, speaking on behalf of the CEO at FFP Guyana Kent Vincent, said the charity is proud to help improve lives. The solar panels would not be able to answer “all your electrical problems but it is a start,” she said. The solar panel kit lights three 12-volt LED bulbs and charges cellular phones.
Benjamin said the charity is “always willing to support families….Where Food for the Poor is there are needs. We don’t come to an area unless there is a need.” Additionally, Benjamin told residents that the household electrification project is the first of many projects that have been planned for their community. She said the group is also willing to assist them in any way possible especially in the agricultural field. “We [FFP] want to ensure all communities that we work in reach their full potential,” Benjamin said.
In brief remarks, Jagroo said the St Francis group informed the region about the project planned for Lighttown which prompted him to engage the charity about supplying panels to other East Bank Berbice and East Canje communities. After successful talks, they were able to obtain the solar panel packs for the communities.
Meanwhile, Armogan expressed thanks to the FFP organisation for bringing the initiative to Region Six. “This would definitively improve the lives of residents” he said. This is something that is needed in the rural communities, the chairman added, telling the recipients that though “the 12 volt panel would not be able to solve the electrical problems it would be able to give you some comfort.”
In his remarks, Foster urged residents not to resell the panels but to take care of them.
The panels have been provided by donors to the programme, which started in 2011.
