Solar panels positively impacting Santa Mission – villagers grateful to govt

TIMES INT'L

Residents of Santa Mission are more than pleased with the recent installation of solar panels in their small, but close knit village.
Guyana Times International recently visited the community, which is located across the Demerara River (around the Kumuni Creek) and spoke to the community’s chairperson, Martina Samuels, who highlighted some benefits which the solar panels brought to her village.

Santa Mission Craft Centre Chairman Martina Samuels selling craft to a tourist
Santa Mission Craft Centre Chairman Martina Samuels selling craft to a tourist

Samuels stated that the village has a population of about 300 persons.  She said the major economic activity for the women is producing arts and crafts and the solar panels have greatly assisted them thus far in their jobs.
This newspaper was told that these solar panels have aided the women tremendously, and as such, their production output has increased. This in turn has ensured that they enjoy greater profits.
“We could now work at night because before this, we only had lamps and we found everyone was crying out for their eyes. However, right now we can work at night because we have brighter lights in our homes. So we want to thank the government for that,” Samuels said.
She further stated that the children in her community have also benefited directly from the distribution of solar panels to Santa Mission, as they are now able to study at night.
Meanwhile, it was noted that a major challenge which residents face is obtaining fresh water.
Samuels explained that while some households have water tanks, there are many residents who remain dependant on water from the creek. She added that her community is highly in need of potable water.
Guyana Times International was told that another major challenge for villagers of the Santa Mission is unemployment as the community’s chairperson emphasised that the population is also slowly decreasing because persons have to relocate to obtain jobs.

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