Some residents of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, have had their street lamps removed by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) after their failure to pay a monthly charge.
A protest action was organised last week by residents, who are demanding the return of the lamps and the reduction of the $3,500 which GPL is demanding they pay.
Some villagers opted to pay the charge and their lamps were not removed. Others said that the persons who are living in proximity to the lamps have agreed to pool their money to pay the charge.
Up to yesterday, many residents remained very upset about the move by GPL to charge them for powering the street lights.
The street lamps were purchased by the residents at a cost of $12,000 and GPL powered the lamps at no cost for years. Many expressed concern about bandits taking advantage of the dark streets to rob residents.
A businessman in Saga Street said he is very disappointed with the removal of the lamps as residents depended on them. He said GPL had invited residents to discuss the move to charge for the service. Some residents visited GPL, while others paid the invitations no attention. Those who did not attend the interview with GPL had their lamps removed.
Since many residents work with GuySuCo, workers often traverse the streets before daybreak to head to work, while others often harvest eschallot and other seasoning and greens in their kitchen gardens which they take to the market.
According to a villager, persons will be up at 4 am harvesting their crops for the market and they often depend on the street lamps.
Another businessman said he asked the GPL workers for the lamp which they were removing but a receipt of purchase of the lamp was demanded, the businessman said.
The resident said that he could not locate the receipt for the lamp so he returned to the store where he made the purchase and they granted him another receipt.
After producing the receipt, the man said his lamp was returned.
Many other persons could not locate their receipts and, as a result, their lamps were taken away by GPL.
