East Bank Street lights to be ready for CARICOM Heads Conference in July

May 21, 2009 News

A spirited effort is being made to complete the installation of road lights from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, to the city, in time for Guyana’s hosting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in early July

Work being stepped up to complete the installation of streetlights along the East Bank of Demerara.

Cummings Electrical Services is undertaking the works and according to company officials, if all goes well, the work will be completed on time.
Kaieteur News understands that work on the project started almost two weeks ago and was originally scheduled to be completed in six months.
But to facilitate the regional heads’ forum, the contractors were asked to make a special effort to complete it by next month end.
According to Senior Electrician, Colin Campbell, the project entails the laying of wallaba poles from Diamond to Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, which will be joined by about 20 metal poles and then a further stretch of wallaba poles.
Campbell said that the company has already sourced the lamps and there is a stockpile of metal poles.
However, they are hoping that the wallaba poles, which are being sourced locally, are provided on time, in order to facilitate the speedy completion of the project.
He said that because of the distance the poles are taking some time to reach the work area, but assurances were given by the supplier that the deadline would be met.
Meanwhile, officials from Cummings Electrical, the entity responsible for the contractual maintenance of the road lights along the East Coast of Demerara and a certain section of the West Coast of Berbice, have visited the area and are preparing a report on the state of the structures there.
Several areas are without lights, resulting from some damages to poles caused by motorists.
Sections of the street light chain at Strathspey and Paradise, on the East Coast Demerara, have been in darkness for more than a month, and motorists have been expressing concerns.
But it’s the motorists who will have to feel the squeeze if they cause the damage.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed deep concern about the wanton damage that is being inflicted on public property as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
According to the Ministry, the critical structures that have been bearing the brunt of these incidents have been the traffic light systems; bridges and utility poles and the lighting systems installed on them.
These items of public property, the Ministry said, have been constructed and installed at great cost to taxpayers and most of the damage has occurred as a result of the reckless use of the roads by inconsiderate drivers.
The Home Affairs Ministry said that steps are being taken to cause the necessary legal amendments to be made to the relevant laws to make them more effective.
Cummings Electrical Company has been providing estimates to the ministry with regards to the cost of repairs to damaged streetlights.
This newspaper was informed that in most cases the cost of repairs to damaged streetlights runs close to $500,000.