Africanised Bees, Rotten Utility Pole Pose Growing Danger for Rosignol Residents

November 19 2025

Residents of Lot 11 McKenzie Street in Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, say they are living in constant fear as a decaying utility pole—now infested with Africanised bees—continues to threaten their safety and property.

The pole, which supports electricity for approximately seven households, has reportedly been deteriorating for more than six years.

According to the occupants, the condition of the pole has worsened significantly, with sections rotting and leaning dangerously. They also reported that emergency services were once summoned after the pole caught fire.

Despite multiple complaints, they claimed that the only response by authorities was to strap the weakened pole to another, a move they believe provided no meaningful solution.

Fear has since increased as Africanised bees have recently colonised a pre-paid meter box on the pole, creating a new hazard for the neighbourhood. The insects have been actively swarming in recent days, forcing some families to remain indoors.

A resident, Sembenlien George, called Elvie, told this publication that the situation has disrupted her daily routine and instilled fear among families living nearby.

“Right now I can’t hang clothes on the line there… if this post break, it will fall on a house,” she said. “It is dangerous, and nobody ain’t coming to fix it.”

Another resident, Elsie Branche, shared a similar frightening experience.

“Yesterday afternoon I see bees flying around me house. I had to close up my window because couple was flying trying to come through the window… it is not safe. Nobody ain’t coming and do nothing,” she said.

79-year-old Joseph Brutus, who said he purchased the pole roughly two decades ago, also expressed deep concern.

“The pole start rotten and I made couple reports. Some fellas come and they tek hammer and beat the post to see if it rotten. Well, they decide to put a stay bar but that bar can’t work. Now I see that the pole got African bees and that is trouble,” he explained.

Although no one has been harmed by the bees thus far, residents fear that it is only a matter of time before disaster strikes—either through an attack by the aggressive bees or from the collapse of the decaying pole.

Residents are calling on the relevant authorities to urgently replace the pole and remove the bee infestation before lives are put at risk