Prime Minister Samuel Hinds officially commissioned the $30 million renewable solar energy project on Friday that seeks to improve the development opportunities in Bina Hill and other surrounding communities by the major obstacle to development, widespread shortage of energy resource.

GINA quoted Prime Minister Samuel Hinds as saying that he was pleased to be able to attend the occasion and be part of a project that has the potential to transform the lives of the people of the district. He extended gratitude to Eerepami for its continued partnership.

“I want to extend on behalf of the government and people of Guyana, and on behalf of the people here too, I want to join the captain (toshao) in extending our thanks for the help that we have been getting from this German-based NGO… I am responsible for energy, so I have a particular interest in trying to bring and encourage others to help in this area in particular,” he said.

The prime minister said that the project that will provide electricity that is indispensable to the educational, health, trade and commerce sectors of the district will ensure that the North Rupununians make their contribution to the economy.
“The people of North Rupununi have… a particular contribution to make that no one else could make, and Guyana would be less rich if this contribution is not made,” he said.

More changes will be forthcoming in Rupununi as government works with different partners to bring greater relief to Guyanese, among which is the introduction of a large scale grid feed by photovoltaic, wind and other renewable energy, he said.

Eerepami’s Chairman Robert Spitzer said that the project dates back about seven years when his organisation first partnered with NRDDB and installed a one-kilowatt solar system in Bina Hill.

Spitzer said that putting in place of the 20 kilowatt-system is a logical step in keeping with the demand for energy in the district. The old system that would have faithfully served Bina Hill is being transferred to Rewa, another Region Nine village as it will help to make the tourism there a little more eco-friendly. Rewa is community known for its abundance of fish and the Tourism Ministry has been promoting sport fishing in the area.

Spitzer said that this project is the biggest Eerepami has ever done in Guyana and the organisation is thankful to the many partners that helped make it a reality.

Recently the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry received $7.8 million in support from the organisation to improve the delivery of training offered to students at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), Onderneeming, Region Two.

The German government supplied about 50 per cent of the finance and a number of partnering companies including Solarwatt, and SMS Solar Technology donated components for the project. Solarwatt produced the solar panel.

Honorary Consul of Germany to Guyana, Ben ter Welle said the occasion marked another special day in the relationship between the two countries, and is just an example of the many partnerships in shared ideas and concepts for the development and benefit of both countries.

Story originally published by the Guyana Times

Joyce’s daughter Cecelia gives fills us in on Joyce’s  history in Guyana: Joyce and Harry Whicher spent the years between 1961 and 69 in Mackenzie (now Linden), when Harry worked for the Demerara Bauxite Company (Demba) in the laboratory as chief chemist. Joyce became very much involved with the local community by teaching English to many of Guyana’s high school teachers and starting a Girl Guide Association in the village. Together with their four children, Sandi, Cecelia, Carl, Ken and other family visitors, they explored the country in their Land Rover, adventuring into the wilds of Canister Falls, southwest as far as Lethem, overland to Kaieteur Falls and into the Rupununi. After retirement it was their dream to take their four children with spouses and all their grandchildren back to the fascinating country they’d lovingly called home for almost a decade. Regretfully Harry passed away six years ago, but Joyce, now 92 and still going strong, returned this October with the last of their grandchildren, Susan Bird, and the first of their great grandchildren, 11-year-old Nate who grinned from ear to ear as he trotted along on his introductory horseback ride with his Mom Christine, his Great Grandmother Joyce and their guide Castro.

The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) is now the English-speaking Caribbean’s leading recognition programme in Arts, Sciences, and Public and Civic Work. The ANSA McAL Foundation launched this Awards Programme in October 2005.

The Awards are made in three areas: Arts & Letters, Science & Technology, and Public & Civic Contributions. Up to 2010, they were made biennially, but in 2011 the Caribbean Awards for Excellence became an annual event. Since 2006, when the first laureates were named, four sets of laureates have been presented with prizes: in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011 in ceremonies at the Hilton, Trinidad.

The goal of the ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence is to recognize significant Caribbean achievement, to encourage and to support the pursuit of excellence by Caribbean persons, for the benefit of the region. The ANSA McAL Foundation is convinced that talent needs to be sought out, brought to light and encouraged. It is in this context that these Awards were conceived.

This is the first such recognition programme of its kind. It is privately funded, free of political and other influence, and offers tangible, significant benefit to the Laureates. It is the most noteworthy philanthropic initiative by a Caribbean organization in recent times.

Our dear partner Sydney Allicock was awarded this same honor two years ago.

More Info