Manickchand condemns act

PPP/C Region Five representative and

former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

People’s Progressive Party Region Five representative and Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Sunday condemned the removal of the street lights in Bath Settlement, Berbice.

Residents of Bath Settlement had recently taken to the streets to protest the removal of the lights within the community. The protest commenced after the new government made a decision that the community would now have to pay for the electricity of its street lights.

The Private Sector in the region had asked for one month to come up with a payment plan, but the lights were removed after their time had expired.

However, Former Minister Manickchand took to social media and stated that the government ministers’ increase could have been allotted to assist in the situation. Manickchand stated: “If we took away only on single Minister’s pay increase… not pay, just the increase from only one single minister, we could get 394.9 street lights, and Bath Settlement only needs about 20.”

The MP further added that a large number of communities would be able to receive electricity if all the salary increase were to be annulled.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) on Sunday reported that GPL is in continuous talks with residents of Bath over the “niggling” street-light issue. The report stated that GPL, after meeting with the Regional Executive Officer of Region Five and his engineer, and then interfacing with residents, made it clear that ‘issues were badly handled’ in the very inception.

The power entity had clarified it is responsible for the supply of electricity, and not the installation of ‘street lamps’ and automatic power supply for these, as they are personal matters and fittings, and are quite different from regular GPL street lamps.

Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had shared that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council is responsible for paying the bill in Bath Settlement, and this was not done. The minister also shared that GPL cannot afford to subsidize electricity cost.

He added that if the NDC can provide an arrangement for the payment, then the lights will be reinstated.