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By Eulana Weekes
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS (WINN): Minister of Public Utilities of St. Kitts and Nevis, Conris Maynard, accompanied by employees of the St. Kitts Power Company, visited the Ottles Reservoir to see first-hand the amount of work required to restore power there.
In June, several businesses, including radio stations and other communications companies using Ottley’s Level, lost power, which had a significant impact on customer service for some businesses. Meetings were held between SKELEC and representatives of the affected companies, but a permanent solution to the problem seems to be elusive.
In an audio-visual presentation, Maynard describes the steep terrain and explains the dangers posed by the massive scale of work that needs to be done at Otley Plains.
“How high up are we? We’re about 1,600-1,700 feet up, and here’s where the lamp posts are. The challenge is, it’s hard to get out here and actually work on the lamp posts. There’s a lamp post in the far distance that’s broken, so nobody can climb up there, and we can’t put a truck out there to lift somebody up there. They (have to) climb up the lamp post, so if we send somebody up there, it’s a dangerous situation for anybody who goes up there. So, they have to replant the lamp post. The question is how do you replant a lamp post? That’s the critical part. If they just had to work on the wires, and the lamp post was solid, then you know it would be an easy, quick fix. But these lamp posts, it’s time to change.”
At least 16 lamp posts need to be reinstalled along key sections. Restoring power to Ottley’s Level would not only be dangerous but also very laborious for the workers without the necessary equipment.
“They told me that the way to plant this tree is to have a group of men carry the pole on their shoulders, tie it to ropes and then drag it. So someone is pulling forward, someone is pulling backward, and then you have to dig the hole manually. Then you have to lift it up by manpower, mix cement and secure it.”
Currently, St. Kitts Electricity Company is in the process of purchasing to secure a contractor to replant the poles on the very steep slope as the company lacks the equipment required to complete such a complex job.
“SKELEC has indicated that they don’t usually have the equipment needed to install these poles. So you have to outsource. So over the last few weeks, they have been going through a procurement process. But I came to have a look and see what other solutions we might need, at least in the short term, until we can find a suitable solution,” the minister said.
While he understands the frustration of affected businesses, Maynard expressed confidence that SKELEC can complete the work, but it will take time.
It is also suggested that affected companies could invest in infrastructure to power their transmitters.
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