Tannery, a village tucked away in New Amsterdam, Berbice, under the jurisdiction of the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council, was once described as swampy, neglected, and nearly invisible to the public eye. But today, the transformation is undeniable.
On Sunday, utility poles were installed in the area, signalling the arrival of electricity—one of the final steps in a wave of development spearheaded by the PPP/C Government.
Several grateful residents spoke with Ignite News about how life has changed, and among them was Beverly Mayers, a resident of the community for 22 years.
“The place was being mud—mud in and out. We didn’t have water, no road, and no current. But this morning, we’re getting electricity. And I thank God for that—and the government. They’re doing something for us at the back here, and I hope they continue.”
Rupert Anthony D’Aguiar also highlighted the long years of hardship residents faced.
“For 15 years now, all we had was bare mud, water, and bush. Now, we get the road under the PPP government, we get the lights under the PPP government, and the water under the PPP government. We thank President Irfaan Ali for this project. Before, it was like bush, water, and swamp. When we invited the PPP to come here, they didn’t even know people lived back here. The councillors always kept us under their foot,” he related.
And with education now relying heavily on the Internet, Keepie Dennis, another resident, emphasised the importance of electricity for school children.
“When it comes to schooling right now everything is the Internet. Without light, it was real difficult. At night, the place pitch black. Now with these poles going up, we can finally see a brighter future for our children,” he said happily.
With electricity now being installed and critical infrastructure in place, residents say they no longer feel forgotten.
