Bethanie ratepayers want answers

THE Bethanie Taxpayers Association has demanded a public explanation why the Bethanie Village Council had failed to honour an agreement with NamPower after last week’s two-day blackout at the village.

NamPower restored the electricity supply after the council paid N$30 000 in terms of an agreement with the power utility. The ratepayers said in a press statement that they feared what could happen next.”The question is whether residents should brace themselves for another crisis of water suspension,” the association said.The association claimed that the Village Council and its workers had caused the crisis by failing to collect unpaid electricity bills since April.In addition, the association said a lack of communication with residents had worsened the council’s weak financial position.According to the association, the last time the council’s books were audited was in 2002 and this was evidence that it had no control over its finances.The association thanked the Village Council’s Secretary, Willie Humphries, for his efforts to have electricity restored to the village after being in office for just three days.The ratepayers said in a press statement that they feared what could happen next.”The question is whether residents should brace themselves for another crisis of water suspension,” the association said.The association claimed that the Village Council and its workers had caused the crisis by failing to collect unpaid electricity bills since April.In addition, the association said a lack of communication with residents had worsened the council’s weak financial position.According to the association, the last time the council’s books were audited was in 2002 and this was evidence that it had no control over its finances.The association thanked the Village Council’s Secretary, Willie Humphries, for his efforts to have electricity restored to the village after being in office for just three days.