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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Oct 2010 : 12:43:19
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DailyNews Editorial: Gambians Waiting on NAWEC!!!
Our National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has just started what many consider to be a way to an end to the erratic supply of electricity in the country.
Being the cheapest source of energy available in the Gambia, NAWEC’s assurance that the problem of load shedding would be solved has brought back hope to the consumers across the country.
What has just been witnessed so far is that the long power outages are on the decrease, though we are not sure of its continuity.
In this electronic era our people cannot work effectively within an environment of a virtual lack of power and worst of all is to be deprived of electricity after fixing poles and metres in a well electrically wired residence just to wait for hours on end to receive electricity.
People have been complaining and still continue to complain of damaged electrical gadgets and appliances in their houses as a result of erratic power cuts without any notification. There are no policies in place to ensure the replacement of damaged appliances caused by power cuts in The Gambia.
There are many skills training centres, professional training institutes that do stop practical lessons when there is power failure. Fuel for a generator that operates for the whole day is very expensive. If energy supply is stable, generators should be used to complement energy for short-term power cuts and not for hours or a whole day.
However, we are all yearning for the restoration of a stable power supply. The rest of the work is in the hands of NAWEC and the energy ministry who should know what is feasible as far as meeting the energy needs of the population is concerned.
The biting energy situation created by the poor electricity supply in the country has rekindled the argument that area councils should all have their own generators to autonomously meet the energy needs of their regions.
We are sure the decentralisation of electricity supply will bring about competition between area councils to fulfill their duties in that aspect.
To that end, NAWEC and the energy ministry should make all efforts at their command to collaboratively and infact collectively resolve the electricity problem. It sometimes beats our imagination when we hear President Yahya Jammeh, who doubles as energy minister, challenging NAWEC or giving them an ultimatum to work on the energy outrage.
This is actually an isolationist approach of solving a problem. A problem that needs collectivization should be dealt with collectively.
The problem with this country is that when there is a complaint about a problem some praise others’ benevolence as sole providers of social services to the extent of comparing the country to a compound.
Let’s bear in mind that in a compound a land lord always uses his own resources towards the welfare of his home and family, while a leader of a nation is entrusted with the resources of the nation to be managed on their behalf in a transparent and accountable manner.
What the people may consider as benevolence is just efforts towards the fulfillment of one’s duties. The government owes the Gambian people transparency and accountability.
So, NAWEC as the only supplier of energy in the country should know that people are seriously waiting on them for a lasting clue to the
erratic power supply.
The better few days are not yet praise worthy until we are sure of its continuity.
Despite experiencing the past and the present, the future is not yet.
Source: DailyNews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2010 : 12:52:15
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I like the way this reporter writes,he/she,is using common sense not the usual blame someone else culture but making suggestions to solve the problem that is on the minds of every Gambian who has access to electricity supplied by NAWEC,my comment for anybody interested is that I agree totally with the writer of this piece and complement him on his clarity of writing that can be understood instead of having to refer to a dictionary by using long words as so often happens when some writers are seeking to impress by writing a load of meaningless words strung together (not like this posting I hope  ) |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 22 Oct 2010 12:53:11 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2010 : 15:32:49
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Daily Observer news editorial Nawec on course under http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/nawec-on-course
"We wish to commend the National Water and Electricity Company (Nawec) for the commissioning of a 9-mega watt power plant in Brikama to meet the growing demands of electricity supply in the country. The development indicates that Nawec is not relenting in its efforts to tally its services with our national development aspirations. What is even more pleasing about the project is that the West Cost Region would become part of its beneficiaries."
ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WATCH OUT FOR STRATEGIC POLITICAL AREAS; BRIKAMA, MANSA KONKO/KIANG, SALOUM, JANJANBUREH, BADDIBU, BANJUL & BASSE FOR 2011 ELECTIONS
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Edited by - kobo on 22 Oct 2010 16:07:54 |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2010 : 16:16:18
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Yes, probably,BUT I think that proposed administrative and localisation thinking that is going on at the moment is a good idea and may possibly reunite the country on a national basis. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 14:27:03
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Prayer: May You Not Fail Like NAWEC
Frowned beyond recognition, Alpha Omar Bah, 23, sits right at the entrance to his internet café, as if to bar customers from entering. On the contrary, he wants them in, but none was coming in.
For the past few months he is getting used to sitting the whole day without a customer. No money, thanks to erratic power supply or lack of it sometimes by the country’s energy giant, NAWEC.
"NAWEC is really killing me," he says, without changing his mood. "I am not making any returns. All my investment is going down the drains".
It has been two years since this industrious young boy finishes his secondary education. Unlike most of his colleagues who fail to further their education, because of lack of either financial or other support, Alpha’s family assisted him to study computer science.
Again, a privilege most of his colleagues lack such an opportunity and are left frustrated with business propositions but without a kick starter, Alpha got financial support from his sister abroad to set up an internet café.
He partnered with a friend Abdoulie Sillah, 23, who as well got some money from his sister abroad.
Attained some level of computer literacy, both Alpha and Abdoulie hope Internet business will help them at least make ends meet in the face of growing demand for them to lend a hand in running the affairs of their families.
However, little did they knew that in a country where providing a basic service as energy has become so laissez-faire, as a Senegalese comedian says (about our power supply), everybody has his or her own NAWEC (generator) at home, technical know-how and (good) location are not enough for their business, which relies solely on energy to thrive.
"From day one, it has not been easy," Alpha says. "We encounter numerous challenges here. At times we lose (internet) connection for some hours or some instances a day or two."
On the heels of these challenging moments, comes a more devastating one; that is the unprecedented load shedding by NAWEC.
"How are we going to pay our bills" he quizzes rhetorically, knowing well whether he makes money or not his uncompromising landlord will make a request end of month.
But Alpha and Abdoulie aren’t alone in this dilemma. It is a national problem. And the president, who would have ordinarily dismissed his energy minister, is himself doubling as the nation’s energy minister.
Families abandon their beautifully decorated air-conditioned houses seeking for fresh air as houses turn hell. And mosquitoes must be jubilating too.
According to a veteran journalist Bijou Peters, "the sudden disruption of electricity supply can be dangerous for families, most of whom have to resort to the use of candles during a black out.
"It creates a hazard also for the elderly members of the family who are unable to find their way safely in a darkened house during power failures. Reports of accidents in the home have been recorded, some of which have resulted in fatalities."
Members of the community who require a regular supply of energy such as welders, bakers, tailors, fishermen, fish processers and dryers are particularly hampered by these frequent power failures which affect their works and daily earnings.
"I have many contracts to work on but due to the constant power interruption I cannot execute it," says, a welder, who was speaking to Daily News recently.
Bakers are now buying bag of ice to mix flour to bake breads, newspapers go off the newsstand, ice sellers have their ice boiled in the fridge, fishers no longer keep the fish fresh and many others have their appliances spoiled, all but thanks to NAWEC.
Drama at parliament
Recalling what could be described as a drama at the National Assembly last year when Hon. Sedia Jatta lamented ont NAWEC’s poor performance. Vice president responding to him tried to defend but before she finishes there was a power failure.
"I am vindicated" Sedia said, amid laughter. Even the journalists burst into laughter.
Power resumed almost a minute after vice president took her seat and the Speaker was saying it was not a power failure, but rather they are switching from generator system to NAWEC when there was power cut again.
"What is it this time," Sedia teases and there was even more laughter.
No pleasing news
NAWEC rarely gives pleasing news. Public notices from NAWEC always read: NAWEC regrets to inform general public that…."
Remembering few years ago, while still going to school we were three in a room having a small radio set giving us some entertainment. But nothing entertains us more than news releases from NAWEC. Anytime the announcer announces: "This is a public announcement from NAWEC, we all burst into laughter. Without listening to what would come next, we will turn off the radio turn it on some seconds later, predicting the final part of the release will read like this: "NAWEC apologizes for any inconvenience." Again we laughed.
Promises again
Meanwhile after unreasonably remaining mute over this issue, NAWEC has finally broken the silence. According to news reports, the unprecedented power cuts were due to an inferno that spoiled some of their machinery, but it is poised to do better.
Prayer
Praying for people’s goodness is not only religious, but a deep rooted culture, here in The Gambia, like a doses of pills, immunizing people against pessimism – for hope. One of the reasons I used to greet my grandma every morning is because of the prayers she offers to me, which I found not only a blessing, but interesting. "May you shine like sun," she would say even after I left. It took me years before I understand what she meant.
But nowadays, these metaphoric prayers are no longer likened to nature, but rather the prevailing man-made circumstances.
Among them are: "May you not fail like NAWEC, May you rise like the price of commodities." Ameen!
Source: DailyNews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2010 : 19:57:10
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"We are sure the decentralisation of electricity supply will bring about competition between area councils to fulfill their duties in that aspect."
(taken from the first post in this topic.)
Monopolies are seldom efficient and it should be very obvious that NAWEC can not be considered to be a cash cow,but more like a black hole that eats money. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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