AFTER years of requests by residents living on the islands of Wakenaam and Leguan in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) for street lights the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Wednesday last announced that the Islands will be equipped with LED street and solar (photovoltaic) systems.

This move will create transformational changes on the islands and residents have welcomed the initiative. “You know how many years we been asking for streets lights over 10 years, we are happy for this over the years due to the lack of visibility many accidents occurred on the island of Wakenaam, we can now feel safer,” Mohamed Ali from Wakenaam Island related.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said other developmental projects are earmarked for the region and for the remaining of 2018, solar PV systems will be installed in five popular facilities. The installation had commenced in 2017 on the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital, Belle West Health Centre, Lenora Magistrates Court and the Veed-en- Hoop Secondary School and will continue in 2018.

The ministry has also embarked on another Energy Efficiency Programme project which would see the replacement of fluorescent street lamps with energy- efficient LED lights. The communities on the islands will be equipped with 792 street lights by the end of 2018. The first phase of the project will see 178 streets lights being installed with 47 allotted to Leguan and 30 for the small Island of Wakenaam.