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Monday, March 5, 2007 – Anse -La- Raye and its neighbouring
communities have been selected as the pilot site for an energy saving project.
The project involves the donation of over three thousand energy saving light
bulbs from the Republic of Cuba. The project is intended to last one month and
will be executed by the Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public
Utilities. According to Mrs. Allison Jean, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities, the project
seeks to realize a reduction in energy consumption, and by extension a decrease
in the cost of electricity bills to residents. Adding that the launching
ceremony for the energy saving project is slated for March 12th, Mrs. Jean is
calling for the cooperation of residents. “ We are calling on the residents to
welcome the persons who will be visiting, and allow them to do the
installation.”
The energy saving bulbs will be installed by electrical officers from the Public
Utilities Department of the Ministry of Communication and Works, and they will
be accompanied by four Cuban nationals. However Mrs Jean says installations will
not be undertaken in cases where there faulty wiring or installation was
formally undertaken. “Our project does not extend to repairing any faulty
electrical wiring or installation and so in the event that that is evident in
some of the houses, we would advise the residents to take care of that before we
proceed with the installation. We are asking residents to look out for officials
of the Ministry of Communications who will be carrying proper identification,
she added.
Mrs. Jean said the north which was initially considered the pilot site, had to
be abandoned as a result of the heightened Cricket World Cup related activities
that will be taking place in that part of the island. She said Anse La Raye was
also the next best choice because it is believed to be more manageable for
executing a project of that nature.
While the project is expected to be replicated in all communities on the island
following this initial phase, the ministry is concerned about the sustainability
of the project. Mrs. Jean says dialogue with the private sector regarding the
continuation of the project is well on stream. “if we are to go purely energy
saving, then there are some implications that we would have to bear and so we
have had discussion with the private sector and they have welcomed this
project”. A team from the Ministry of Communications and Works Team will be
rounding up dialogue with the Anse La Raye Voluntary Organization this evening
ahead of the Monday 12th launching of the energy saving project.
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