THE main roadways of several regions in Guyana will be outfitted with new energy-saving Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps in just a week’s time following the Government’s acquisition of over 10,000 of the lamps from the Japanese Government.
What will be the first phase of the project will see some 1,500 of the LED lamps being mounted in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 replacing the current High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps across the country.
The project comes through collaboration between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Japan Non-Project Grant of US$1,330,000.
It will see the Government receiving total of 10,930 LED lamps and, thus far, two shipments amounting to 6,214 have already been received while the final shipment of the remaining 4,716 is expected by August 24, 2018.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Head of the Traffic and Highway Lights Department at MOPI, Terrence O’Brien provided a detailed report of all the areas to benefit in the coming weeks.
In Region Two new lamps will be placed from Supenaam to Jib, in Anna Regina while in Region Three lamps will be installed on the Wakenaam roadway and from Vreed-en-Hoop to Nouvelle Flanders and from Meer-Zorgen to Plantain Walk on the West Bank of Demerara.
Meanwhile, in Region Four there will be lamps along Homestretch Avenue, the Bourda Market Square, Aubrey Barker Road, University of Guyana (UG) Access Road, from Vlissengen Road at the Seawall to the Square of the Revolution, Camp Street, Regent Street, Main Street; from Bel Air Railway to Ogle Railway and from Conversation Tree to Vlissengen Road totaling 350.
For Region Five there will be 157 lamps altogether with areas including Ithaca; Bath to Number 12 and D’Edward to Rosignol. In Region Six, 188 lamps will run from Palmyra to New Amsterdam and at the Palmyra T-Junction.
Region 10 will also receive 100 lamps total on the McKenzie and Wismar shore bringing the total of lamps to be installed within the first phase to 1,500.
O’Brien said that, apart from the Linden Highway which will be addressed with future resources, the aim is to replace the old lamps at every highway in the country which amount to just over 7,000.
Under the Ministry of Communities’ Community Infrastructure Improvement Project, in the coming phases both small and large communities will receive LED Lamps, even in those where there were previously no street lights.
As such, lamps will be placed in internal streets in: Anna Regina – 60 lamps; Bartica – 248 lamps; New Amsterdam – 956 lamps; Rose Hall – 30 lamps; Corriverton – 17 lamps; Lethem – 132 lamps; Linden – 360 lamps while Mabaruma and Mahdia will each received 167 and 30 lamps respectively for the first time.
O’Brien says that the first phase should take approximately two and a half weeks while the projected completion date of the installation of the over 10,000 lamps is October 2018.
Compared to the HPS lamps, which have a life span of five years, the LED Lamps can last for up to 20 years and will save the Government some 65 percent in energy costs as well as savings in maintenance costs.
In addition, the new lamps are water resistant; burn less energy; operate on very low voltages; work well in a wide range of operating temperatures; are environmentally safe; reveal the actual colour of objects; will improve the visuals on highways and help to discourage criminal activities common in the nights.
O’Brien said that plans are already in motion for the HPS lamps being replaced to be either sold or upcycled creating additional LED lamps through modification.
The MOPI will utilise in-house workers as well as hired contractors to install the lamps while a small portion will be reserved for emergency cases such as damaged lamps due to road accidents or any other unfortunate occurrence.
The LED lamps form a part of the Government’s vision of a green economy and President David Granger’s aim to ensure that the country is built on environmental sustainability balanced with economic development.
