Despite the minor setback of a delayed shipment of supplies from their
homeland, a number of visiting Cuban social workers began their task of
replacing thousands of incandescent bulbs in households on Nevis to
energy saving bulbs, a project Junior Minister Hon. Carlisle Powell
responsible for Utilities said would save the Nevis Island
Administration (NIA) a total of US$1.4 million annually.
Mr. Powell said the project which is referred to as the Incandescent
Bulbs Replacement Programme is part of a goodwill gesture by the Cuban
government extended to select islands in the Caribbean.
"Based on the report done for us by the Cubans, it could mean saving the
island up to a total of US$1.4 million per year and this divided between
savings on fuel and electricity consumption. The Cubans are looking at
changing approximately 54,000 light bulbs during this period. I think
that it is a significant undertaking by the Cubans.
"The saving is significant because it means not investing that money in
electricity for the government and from the Nevis Electricity Company
Limited's (NEVLEC) point having that money to invest in other areas to
improve the company. For the householder it obviously means savings
because they would be able to save this money from utility bills and
invest that money in other ways of improving the family," he said.
He added that the savings would enable government to keep a reserve
which would be used to improve other aspects of life on Nevis.
Mr. Powell said in an effort to assist with the effective implementation
of the programme, the Administration had been requested to provide
accommodation in the form of a community centre, meals for 30 persons,
transportation to move the workforce and transport the bulbs and a total
of 30 local volunteers. The workers have been placed at the community
centre on Hanleys Road.
The minister disclosed that the Cubans were looking to replace an
estimated 54,000 bulbs over a period of 15 working days. Each social
worker is expected to visit 10 housing units daily to replace an average
of 120 incandescent light bulbs. The teams work schedule ranges from 2
pm to 7 pm from Mondays to Fridays and from 8 am to 6 pm Saturdays.
He noted that while the programme intended to change every light bulb in
households throughout Nevis, bulbs would be made available for
replacement purposes.
"The programme is not only a programme of exchanging light bulbs but
from discussions with the Cuban they are also bringing in some extra
light bulbs that we will be able to have available for people at a cost.
The initial exchange is free.
"I am sure that people will take the opportunity to ensure that they
have those replacement bulbs. We [NIA] will have to make sure that the
bulbs are available for the people, so that when they want to change
their bulbs they would be there. If we don't people will go back to the
cheaper light bulbs which they are accustom to and we will defeat the
purpose," he said.
The Incandescent Bulbs Replacement Programme concluded in St. Kitts
recently before the team headed to Nevis.
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