– new mega solar power plant, other projects completed

BARTICA has been chosen by President David Granger to be the model ‘green’ town which will demonstrate the green vision for Guyana, and has since been benefitting from government investments for its transformation.

For decades, Bartica’s potential has been stifled and unfulfilled, said Mayor Gifford Marshall, but since the ‘Coalition Government’ took office in 2015, “what was once a small underdeveloped village, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art town, with an attractive tourist package.”

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Mayor Marshall spoke enthusiastically on the transformation made over the four years. The highlight of the interview, however, was the completion of the new modern 3.5MW power station on the peripheries of the town at Dagg Point, Agatash.

Marshall said that history has been created since this is the first time, the town is not being powered from the GPL generator that was situated on First Avenue Bartica, just next door to the municipality market.

The old location of the electricity system was a major nuisance to the town, the mayor said. Explaining further that generators were situated on the road at First Avenue Bartica, which is a central location for businesses and people passing through the town.
This eventually became a noise, air and water pollutant. In addition to being a pollutant, the extension of the township outgrew the capacity of the generators, so blackouts became frequent.

All these challenges are things of the past, Marshall noted, as the mega plant is up and running. However, even though completed, the new system is in its trial phase. Marshall explained that the set-up at the old location was subsequently moved to Dagg Point, and the operators are intermittently switching over to the new system to generate power to the people of Bartica.

In the meanwhile, Marshall pointed out that the quality of electricity has already been improved, which is very important for several sectors.

“I must comment on the steadfastness the government has demonstrated in completing these projects in Bartica, and I trust that we will continue getting this efficiency moving forward. This mega power plant is a major improvement that is beneficial to several sectors. Education delivery will be improved, health care delivery will be improved, the business community will benefit tremendously, and of course, the overall livelihood of the people will be improved, because most of it is reliant on electricity,” he pointed out.

In addition to the new electricity system, the township of Bartica, through a collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Infrastructure and Office of Climate Change (OCC), received over 700 LED lights for installation throughout the town.

This, Marshal said, has been completed and “the entire Bartica is lit”, which adds not only to the beautification of the town but also to the safety of its people.

“The usage of the LED lights reflects that there is reduced consumption, but most importantly, with over 90 per cent of the township covered with lights, security is improved. So far the feedbacks are positive, our town is much brighter, and this is pushing development in Bartica,” Marshall noted.

There are several other projects in the pipeline, awaiting budget approval. Meanwhile, the people are celebrating what they have already benefitted from over the past four years.
In a previous visit to Bartica by this publication, many of its residents lauded the government for continuously pumping funds into their hometown to give them equal access and benefits as that of the coastland areas.

Notably, the significant upgrade of the town is a major boost for both foreigners and locals from other regions, who would now constantly visit the township to experience its new developments.

Marshall is committed to ensuring the path being paved for Bartica is one that will positively impact the people, especially the youths.