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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 17, 2019) — The following is a statement from the Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC) regarding the implementation of its Street Lighting Replacement Exercise.

Over the past three years, NEVLEC had challenges in keeping the existing street lights in good repair, which has been a source of major concern and frustration amongst the populace. This was due in part to NEVLEC’s expectations that the replacement of the existing street lights, with the more modern energy efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) street lights, would have happened sooner.

With all of the arrangements now finalized, NEVLEC is pleased to inform the public that the first batch of 2,500 LED street lights from a total of 4,500 has arrived in Nevis and the balance is due here by the end of the month.

NEVLEC has also purchased two small bucket trucks which will be used to ensure that the replacement exercise proceeds as efficiently as possible. One of the trucks is already in Nevis and the second will be here next week. Training in the proper use of these trucks has been arranged and will take place before the end of the month.

NEVLEC expects the exercise to replace all existing streetlights with LED street lights to commence no later than November 1st and expects the exercise to take 4-6 months to be completed. A similar exercise to replace all floodlights on the various playing fields and basketball/netball complexes around the island will begin in early 2020.

These initiatives are intended to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and its contribution to global warming, as well as to reduce the demand for electricity and will also positively impact the fuel surcharge.  

The replacement exercise will take place in a very structured and orderly manner for reasons of efficiency, commencing with the Island Main Road, followed by working in two parishes at a time. There will be sufficient lights to ensure that in addition to replacing all existing lamps, that additional street lights will be installed.

The locations for additional street lights will be decided on by NEVLEC working with various stakeholders such as the Police. From all indications, we will be able to achieve a desired standard of ensuring that there is a street light on every other pole.   

The recovered street lamps will be packed into containers in order to be shipped away, to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner as stipulated.

We would like to thank the public for their patience, and to point out that there is not a need to call about a defective lamp whilst the exercise is ongoing.