GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Guyana government says it has approved a GUY$885 million (One Guyana dollar = US$0.004 cents) investment in retrofitting solar photovoltaic systems in 21 Amerindian villages.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said the investment is expected to benefit approximately 12,700 residents and forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to expand access to clean and reliable energy in remote communities.
Phillips told the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which ends on Friday, that the Government is committed to sustainable and inclusive community development, reiterating the administration’s priority to bridge the energy and digital divides, improving the lives of Guyana’s Amerindians in hinterland and riverine regions.
In his address, Prime Minister Phillips referenced the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo in Region 9, which currently has an installed generation capacity of 5.2 megawatts through a combination of fossil fuel generator sets, hydropower, and solar installations.
However, only two megawatts are currently in use, and Prime Minister Phillis said that this underutilized capacity presents significant potential for developing agro-processing and micro-enterprise initiatives.
He said such opportunities could support the growth of small-scale industries and value-added production, particularly in mango and cashew processing within the region.
“I’m using Region Nine as an example to show that we are serious about development in your communities. You are connected to the rest of Guyana through ICT; you are connected to the world, to the future. That is how we improve the delivery of medical services and education. Because you are now connected, you can access universities and colleges worldwide.”
He said that thanks to the Government’s transformative agenda, many individuals from the hinterland have enrolled in the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship program through this level of connectivity, while others have already graduated.
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