Residents of Barriken Town in Maryland County are celebrating the arrival of electricity for the first time since 1981 following the donation of a 150-watt transformer to the community.
The transformer was donated by Mr. Eric W. Giko, a Maryland County native currently residing in the United States of America, as part of his efforts to support development initiatives in his home county.
On Sunday, Alex Bie Davis, head of the Friends of Giko, led a delegation of district officials and citizens drawn from surrounding communities to Barriken for the official turning-over ceremony of the transformer to the town’s residents.
During the ceremony, Mr. Davis reaffirmed Mr. Giko’s commitment to providing much-needed services aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
According to him, Mr. Giko’s development efforts are not limited to Pleebo-Sodoken District but extend across the four statutory districts of Maryland County.
Mr. Davis disclosed that residents of Barriken first approached Mr. Giko nearly two years ago to help address the lack of electricity in the town, a situation they described as troubling for the community. Barriken is considered one of the largest towns between Harper and Pleebo and serves as an important commercial center close to Pleebo.
He noted that although electricity reached parts of Maryland County in 2015, Barriken remained without power until now. He encouraged residents to set aside individual differences and work together for the development of their community.
“Now that the opportunity has come, it is time for the people of Barriken to unite and embrace development. When a community opens its arms and works together, more opportunities and development projects will follow,” Davis told residents.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Barriken General Town Chief Hon. Edwin B. Wadeh praised Mr. Giko for the initiative, describing the donation of the transformer as a timely intervention and a significant step toward development.
Chief Wadeh explained that since the Lesico Company, which once produced sugar in the area, shut down its operations many years ago, the town has remained without electricity. As a result, residents have had to travel to Harper or Pleebo just to charge their phones and conduct basic business activities.
“This donation will change many things for our people. For years we have been living in darkness, and residents have had to travel long distances just to charge their phones. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Barriken,” Chief Wadeh said.
The transformer, according to community leaders, will be formally turned over to LibEnergy at a later date to enable the official installation and connection of electricity to the town. Management of the electricity provider has already assured the community that once the process is completed, installation will commence.
Residents believe the arrival of electricity will greatly transform the town by boosting businesses, improving education as students will have light to study at night, and enhancing healthcare services through the ability to store medicines and vaccines that require refrigeration.
Community members described the initiative as a historic milestone and expressed hope that electricity will attract new investments, create opportunities for small businesses, and improve the overall living conditions of the people of Barriken.
For many residents, the donation represents the long-awaited return of light to a community that has spent more than four decades in darkness.
