Lights at Albion ready for use, to be tested tonight

May 25, 2014 Sports

Despite a few hiccups and some unwarranted delays the promised and much anticipated Albion Community Centre Lighting Project is almost complete and is ready for use. The project, which was scheduled to be completed by the 15th March and done at a cost of $91M, has been reportedly completed and tested.

The illuminated Albion ground during a test of the lighting.

Stakeholders are elated that the project has come to fruition. The lights are expected to be put into full use tonight with the staging of the annual Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) annual cricket extravaganza.
The project was done in three phases – Supply of equipment, civil works and electrical installation.
The first saw the arrival of the Electrical Components from overseas back in January.
The second phase which was undertaken by Cummings Electrical and supervised by Engineering Consultant and Engineering Firm was scheduled to be completed to the tune of $44M. This aspect had many hiccups with some aspects of the project being redone due to some flaws. Cummings Electrical was responsible for the construction of the foundation for the Light Towers, the construction of the Electrical hut and the installation of the equipment.
The third phase was supervised by Musco Lighting and saw the project coming to being with the installation of all the imported equipment and powering of the system. Musco Lighting is the same company that supplied the Lighting for the Guyana National Stadium and a few other facilities.
Additional facilities such as drainage, outfield and enhanced seating arrangements will be addressed by the Government after the lighting project is completed.
There are six towers with seventeen luminaries on each pole, totaling 102 – 1500 watts bulbs.
The lights will be powered by a generator or local power source. The energy saver type lights are expected to be used. The project is expected to be given a 10 year warranty.
The Albion Community Centre was the venue for the first one day international match played in the Caribbean. A formal opening is expected to be done soon. (Samuel Whyte)