Region Six Regional Chairman David Armogan has urged the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) to take Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, up on his statement when he said that NDCs can approach the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) and offer to pay $300,000 per month to power 100 streetlights.
The statement by Armogan was made yesterday during the region’s statutory meeting
Armogan, in a later interview with Stabroek News, explained that during the Alliance For Change’s live television programme in Berbice, Patterson was purported to have said that the NDCs have not been fully serving their communities by not taking the initiative to go to GPL and make arrangements to pay $300,000 per month for 100 streetlights within their areas, “I don’t know if it is a mistake but this is what he said.”
Further, Devin Sookraj, AFC Regional Councillor, who moderated the AFC programme which also hosted Minister Cathy Hughes and Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, confirmed that that was indeed what the minister said.
Based on that statement, Armogan said, “I have advised all the 18 NDCs within the region and all three municipalities to now engage GPL and try to raise $300,000 among the residents so that their areas can be equipped with streetlights.”
The chairman further emphasised that he does not have any other details as to who will provide the hundreds of streetlights to the various areas but since the minister made such a statement on a programme that is televised throughout Region Six and streamed online, then it should be acted on in order to ensure that residents can benefit from it and improve security within their neighbourhoods.
He also noted, that ministers of the government should be held accountable for the statements they make to the citizens of Guyana.
“I’ve never heard of it before, this is the first time I heard of it on the television station on ‘AFC on the Move’ programme with the ministers and I’m taking them [up] on [it],” Armogan stressed.
Meanwhile, Armogan also opined that there is a need for a streetlight maintenance project to be given to a team or contractor from within the region.
The Regional Chairman explained that streetlights are sometimes out for months until a team from the ministry visits the region and carries out maintenance work. He said sometimes it is just a minor issue and with an in-region contractor, the lights can be fixed quickly rather than wait months for persons from the ministry to arrive.
