(Kaieteur News) – Residents of Meadowbrook Gardens are calling for the immediate suspension of transmission line works in their community, citing what they say are broken commitments and unanswered safety concerns.
In a statement to the media on Friday, the Meadowbrook Gardens Community Group expressed outrage and “profound disappointment and serious concern over the resumption of works involving the installation of major electricity transmission lines through our residential community, despite commitments made during a recent meeting with project representatives that works along the disputed section would be halted.”
The group said the latest development was particularly troubling because residents had been seeking meaningful consultation since February this year. They have raised concerns about the proposed transmission route, its proximity to residential properties, potential safety and health implications, and the availability of alternative alignments. However, despite several requests over the months, the group said these fundamental questions remain unanswered while construction activities have resumed.
Unanswered Concerns
In February 2026, residents formally requested consultation after raising concerns that the proposed transmission line alignment would affect Meadowbrook Gardens. They questioned why the transmission lines, which had reportedly been proposed for another community before objections were raised, were subsequently rerouted towards their neighbourhood.
“Why was our residential community selected following objections from another community? What technical, environmental or safety considerations justified this decision?” they asked.
Residents also questioned why existing reserves bordering the community had not been considered as an alternative route, rather than directing major transmission infrastructure through established residential areas. The group said these were important and reasonable questions for which no satisfactory explanations, technical justifications or supporting documentation had been provided.
As a result, the community remains concerned that it has not received adequate consideration and that decisions affecting residents’ homes and daily lives are being implemented without sufficient transparency.
GPL has already started driving piles for a new electrification in Meadow Brook
The statement further emphasised that Meadowbrook Gardens is an established residential community where children regularly play outdoors, families gather on their lawns and residents host community activities and events. These are not unused spaces, the group said, but essential parts of residents’ homes, neighbourhood and daily lives. Information received by the group suggests that the transmission lines could pass within a few feet of homes and areas used by road users.
“Residents remain deeply concerned about potential electrical safety hazards, the proximity of transmission infrastructure to residential properties, possible restrictions on the use and enjoyment of their homes, and the implications of long-term exposure to electromagnetic fields. These concerns are not without scientific foundation. The World Health Organization (WHO), through its specialised cancer research agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, including those associated with electricity transmission systems, as Group 2B — “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” they added.
The group further stated, “This classification was based primarily on epidemiological studies identifying an association between prolonged residential exposure to elevated magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. We believe that where reasonable alternatives may exist, potential risks and unnecessary proximity to homes should be properly evaluated rather than dismissed.”
At a recent meeting convened to address residents’ concerns, project representatives reportedly communicated that work along the disputed section would be halted. Residents interpreted this as an opportunity for further engagement and consideration of the issues they had raised.
However, the group said the subsequent resumption of construction, without satisfactory responses to residents’ concerns or a clear explanation, had seriously undermined public confidence in the consultation process.
“What is the purpose of consultation if legitimate questions remain unanswered, commitments are disregarded, and construction proceeds regardless of residents’ objections? Meaningful consultation cannot simply be an exercise in informing residents of decisions already made. It must involve genuine engagement, access to relevant information, consideration of alternatives and accountability for commitments communicated to affected communities,” the statement said.
While recognising the importance of modern electricity infrastructure and a strengthened national grid, the community said it supported development only when it was pursued responsibly. It added that national development must respect established communities, prioritise public safety and ensure that affected residents are properly consulted.
“Our position has remained consistent: we are not opposed to electricity infrastructure development. We object to the disputed alignment through our residential community and the apparent failure to adequately consider safer or less intrusive alternatives. It is particularly concerning that, despite the availability of bordering reserves identified by residents, no satisfactory explanation has been provided as to why the proposed alignment must pass so close to homes and frequently used community spaces,” it added.
The Meadowbrook Gardens Community Group is therefore calling on Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), other project authorities and relevant government agencies to take the following actions:
- Immediately suspend all construction activities along the disputed section of the transmission route pending meaningful consultation, disclosure of relevant assessments and proper consideration of residents’ concerns.
- Provide a written explanation for the resumption of works despite the commitment communicated to residents during the recent community meeting.
- Disclose the justification for the change in alignment, including why the transmission route was redirected towards Meadowbrook Gardens following objections to the previously proposed route through another community.
- Provide a detailed technical explanation of why the existing reserves bordering Meadowbrook Gardens have not been utilised, including an assessment of their feasibility as alternative transmission corridors.
- Release the relevant environmental, health, engineering and safety assessments, including proposed clearances from homes, roadways and public spaces, applicable safety standards, electromagnetic-field exposure assessments and any required environmental authorisations.
- Commission an independent technical and environmental review of the disputed alignment, including an objective comparison of alternative routes that could minimise potential impacts on residential properties and community spaces.
- Request urgent intervention by the Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant oversight authorities to examine whether the proposed alignment and associated works have undergone appropriate environmental review, regulatory authorisation and public consultation.
- Convene a further meeting involving community representatives, project decision-makers and qualified technical personnel, with all outstanding questions addressed before construction resumes along the disputed route.
The group lamented that residents had spent months attempting to engage constructively and responsibly with the relevant authorities by asking questions, requesting consultation, identifying potential alternatives and expressing concerns about their homes, families and community. It stressed that these concerns should not be set aside while construction continues.
The community deserves to know why its residential streets were selected, “why available alternative corridors have not been adequately considered, and what measures have been taken to ensure that the proposed infrastructure does not unnecessarily compromise public safety or residential wellbeing. A commitment made to a community must carry meaning and accountability.”
The Meadowbrook Gardens Community Group is therefore insisting that work along the disputed section be suspended immediately until these outstanding matters are properly addressed. While remaining committed to constructive engagement and a responsible resolution, the group said it would continue advocating for the protection of the community, residents’ interests and the principle that national development must proceed with transparency, accountability and meaningful public participation.
It added that residents’ homes are not merely points on an engineer’s drawing, but places where their families live, their children grow and their community thrives.
Efforts to contact team lead of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), Kesh Nandlall for a response were unsuccessful.
Source: Kaieteur News
