The Ministry of Public Works in collaboration with five local contractors has officially signed five contracts for the installation of solar lights along both the Edward Oliver Leblanc and Doctor Liverpool highways.
A sixth contract was also signed for the rehabilitation of 100 meters of road through Hampstead.
The contracts were signed at the Ministry of Finance, Financial Center on Friday June 2nd 2017 and are to be completed at a total estimated cost of $2-million.
Minister for Public Works, Miriam Blanchard, stated that the solar lights installation is part of a program of “increasing the lighting along our major highways.”
“These solar lights will allow us to make the improvements without increasing the carbon footprint in of our beautiful nature isle Dominica. By that I mean that the installation and operation of these lights have no negative impact on the environment, unlike the conventional street light which rely on power generated from diesel generators,” Blanchard explained.
Besides this factor, Blanchard stated that the most imposter factor at play in this project is the safety of the citizens of the country.
“I know that the result in improvement of lighting along our highways will go a long way in bringing greater comfort to you, the road users in Dominica,” Blanchard said.
She described this lighting project as yet “another manifestation of the generosity of the government of the People’s Republic of China.”
“Their commitment to working with the government of Dominica to achieve our development goals…I want to take this opportunity to express publicly, once more, my sincere appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Dominica to the government to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China for their significant contributions over the past decades or so; to the economic advancement of our country, and the positive impact this has had on the lives of all of us here in Dominica,” Blanchard remarked.
A few years back, the government of the People’s Republic of China presented Dominican with a total of 2,500 solar lights to assist in the country’s move towards better lighting along the highways.
This signing of contracts, according to Blanchard, shows that the government is “hard at work” in continuing the development of this country.
Each of the five contracts accounts for the construction of 120 bases and boxes for the solar lights bringing the total to 600 solar light units being installed in Dominica.
360 lights will be erected on the Edward Oliver Leblanc Highway, while 240 will be done on the Doctor Liverpool Highway.
These are great however the light from Pond Case are far too close together, in fact ridiculously so. The number that were installed could easily have gone double the distance, if not more. We need to learn to use our financial resources more sensibly.
We are talking about nature Island and we are placing lights in the rain forest. These lights do have a negative impact on the biodiversity of the area – Was an environmental impact assessment done before this contracts were awarded, especially for the Liverpool highway. There goes the Hercules beetle and other species that depend on the stars for navigational aid. They will now navigate to solar lights.
So much for progress – Place the lights in villages and communities that could benefit from it.
I am really happy about this progress!!!!!
Very good initiative on the part of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Not only will it be beneficial to the road users but it will also benefit the Government because it will greatly reduce the cost of electricity bills which the government pays on a monthly basis. A special thank you also goes out the government and people of the People’s Republic of China.
LABOUR KA TWAVAY!!!!!! Who doe like it will have to lie down by it.
Thumbs up for our government they working
Thumbs up for out government they working
Contracts were distributed without tender.
None of the individual contractors named/identified!
So what happen to the 2500 lights?
And how come foo dog bridge too jou in the dark?
TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO PUT UP LIGHTS? KI SA!!
I forgot the stadium bridge
We need some on Cochrane Road. During Rabbit Fesr you see the majority of the people leaving just before darkness falls. Who wants to be caught on Cochrane Road with a flat tire or some other mechanical problem in pitch darkness? D road arreddy not good. q
Good deal. How about lighting up the towns/villages since Domlec sky-high, diesel generated, almost treasonous hydro-neglected mischief – has caused the villages to be so dark because so many of us can’t afford to leave a light on outside our homes?
I’m sure we all have noticed how dark our residential areas are and need more lighting simply for security.
Thank you
WHY ARE THE FIVE CONTRACTORS NOT NAMED??
Good work, hope this venture spread all thru the Island cheep energy.
No to Bribery!
No to Treating!
Any government that is attempting to legalize them is indeed CORRUPT,FETID and POLLUTED..
This is not news,i want to hear about sustainable jobs.
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!
Duh.%…brain fart?
Contract everywhere everyone , but am asking everyone, when a minister or some high persons in Dominica get sick they have to be flown overseas and the voters and other Dominicans not realizing that is at PMH they have to perish..
The reason for this, why all this MONIES not spend on rehabilitation to the medical system in Dominica (already the PM said the hospital is constructed the wrong place) and developed this medical facilities so we will know where to go. The agricultural department, the security of the state people are found and killed everytime. Payments and increase in salaries . Come help our country.
Great but what about traffic lights in town and all intersections Red light,yellow light, green light go.
Thank you it’s time step forward
This is lovely local contractors , that’s what we have to do , if we want to change the land scape of the mind. Boys make us proud go over and beyond and give us an excellent job that will outlast all hurricanes. I am rooting for you all to get the next million dollar job to build all bridges . Dr Roosevelt skerritt is working and understand exactly what he has to do. We are going to keep the money home boys . Don’t go to st marteen and shop, shop at home . We have to create the millionars like Jamaica . Jamaica has 8 billionaires none of them is black . I want you all boys to get together and big on contracts in the caribean like Williams construction company . Good luck boys.
I can think of a score of things that would make our roads safer, but street lights along rural roads would not be one of them. Please note that I stress “rural”. Street lights in urban areas are a different matter.
You see Roger it seems very self-serving since gov’t higher ups and decision makers travel and are not fund of the drive from airport to their homes. Your suggestion is THE right thing to do in order to upgrade conditions that affect in our daily lives. Then again u are a thinker, they won’t ask u for your valuable input.
” By that I mean that the installation and operation of these lights have no negative impact on the environment,….” lol other than an increase in the insect population right, since they are attracted to light hmm, more food for spiders I say