KINGSTON - The Ministry through its highway lighting maintenance programme has restored transformers in areas where drivers “accidentally” drove into lamp poles, effectively destroying the infrastructure.
However, the cost of restoring the transformers has not been borne solely by the Ministry. Drivers who have accepted responsibility for the damaged infrastructure have worked out an arrangement with the Ministry. The Ministry is willing to go to the courts for those who have not.
This was revealed by Terrence O’Brien, Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Ministry. O’Brien said while agreements have been met between the Ministry and the drivers all monies have not been paid over to the Ministry.
Nonetheless, the Ministry has moved to restore the infrastructure to illuminate sections of Timehri, East Bank Demerara; Tempe, West Coast Berbice; DeKendren, West Coast Demerara; and Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
He related that on Friday last five 25kVA transformers procured by the Ministry arrived in Guyana and contractors over the weekend worked assiduously to install the equipment. According to O’Brien, a transformer provides power to 40 lights in any given stretch.
He said that Cummings Electrical was contracted by the Ministry to install the transformer at Timehri (between Madewini Creek and Bounty Farm); Ramotar and Sons was contracted to install transformers at Dekendren and Tempe; and Dynamics Engineering installed the transformer at Mahaica.
The engineer related that the final cost for each project is not yet known since the contractors have to submit their invoices. However, one of the 25kVA transformers costs approximately $542,000.
O’Brien noted that the remaining transformer is being stored by the Ministry for future usage. (Kaieteur News)
