……And There Was Light

I had wanted not to write anything regarding this. But, I just can’t believe how exciting it is to once again have a room full of lights! I was about three months ago that my room blackout. These dwindle started with my AC not working, then the bathroom lights went out, and finally, the room’s light followed. While I kept hoping for immediate remedy, the situation just got hopeless till this day, 21st of June, 2010.

There were times when I felt so sick and tired. I just wanted to go to my room and rest. But, the sauna-like temperatures of my room dictated otherwise. I spent most of those times in the office, instead.

You know me, I hate complaining. I just wanted to let everything goes and hoped things would change.

Things never did. Instead, I was provoked to send this following email:

Hi Kon,

It has been two months now with the residential Civicon Prefabs (mine included) not having power. I understand there were contractual issues and that wiring needed to be done in a proper way. However, it has come to my attention that, currently, we have an electrical engineer working on the compound. And while, I would think his priority should be fixing the problem with the power in the residential Prefabs, he was directed to work on getting the office in place. And, as I speak, am writing from the office recently installed. I would like to know, therefore, if living condition for the residents is not as important as the working condition. Or, I may be judgemental, what is the reason behind focusing getting this office done, before the residential houses? Thanks, in advance, for your clarifications!!

Panther Alier
Community Development Project Specialist, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State
SUDAN BRIDGE Program
E-mail| palier@field.winrock.org| pantheralier@gmail.com
Phone| Zain +249 91 491 6585|Gemtel +256 477 155315| Sudani +249 127 057 427
Skype| aliergaak
Website| www.winrock.org

To which I got this reply:

Dear Panther,

I hope Paul had already signed the electrical wiring contract with us and he is working on it and that is why you do see him doing working around. We cannot tell him that do it as soon as possible, since it is already electrical wiring, it needs more attention from him to make sure that connection he made will not trouble us in the future. Should we attempt to tell him that, make as soon as possible then, we will encounter electrical problem and that is not our desire. Yes, we have to push him but we need to respect the electrical law. I do talk to him that our people are suffering, can you try your best do something possible but he do answer me that I need somewhat that will last long but not possible for a while and bring you in the same trouble we are escaping now again. Me I don’t want to have power problem once he finished the connection.
Panther I knew the long- suffering you people had been in but I apologies for that and be enduring, its remain only some little time to be relief out from the power issue.
Thanks.

Whatever!

I don’t know whether he actually understood what I was saying. This email was a reply to my message sent out on the 9th of June, 2010. On it, I made sure I copied the Team Leader. Although the compound’s constructions fall under the logistician, I am almost sure the Team Leader made the decision to work on the office first, forgetting that staffs are neither happy nor productive when subjected to harsh conditions.

I suspected this because, when he came back from his leave, he shifted to a new room shortly after finding out that his prefab, which is in the same line as mine, did not have lights. Previously, he instituted policy to shutdown generator after 11 pm. That works fine with the kind of prefabs he vacated, but not so good with the new one he moved to. This new prefab has only two windows facing the same direction. This makes it difficult to get in enough air unless the AC/fan is working. There, his policy of shutting down generators at night worked against him on that particular night. The night after, a 24 hour generator policy immediately took effect. This, of course, was good news for at least those whose electricity worked in their rooms.

And for me? I had to wait for a day like this. Although my AC still does not work, I can now, at least, put on fan and there will be enough air to keep me cool. I am sorry if this particular article has been too much of things that have not gone right. It is also about new lights and hope that things are now changing for better. By the way, we just had a Team Leaders’ change. We have received a Team Leader from one of our other three States and ours will go to replace him. More will come on these new changes. Wish us the best of luck!