Minister Paulwell Turns on Lights in Penn Street

Residents of the rural district of Penn Street in York Circle, Clarendon, now have electricity in their homes, following installation work done by National Energy Solutions Limited (NESol) at a cost of $5 million.

The project involved the installation of 1.1 kilometres of electrical distribution lines to facilitate the connection of some 15 households and six street lights to the national grid.

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who formally switched on the power during a ceremony in the community on Wednesday (December 9), said the aim is to make Jamaica “100 per cent electrified.”

He said the Government is aiming to transform the energy sector in Jamaica by reducing the dependence on expensive fossil fuel and incorporating the use of liquefied natural gas and more renewable sources of energy.

He noted further that electricity costs must be reduced to between US 15 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour to improve the country’s competitiveness and he is working to ensure that this becomes a reality in short order.

Minister Paulwell urged the Penn Street residents to meet their obligations by paying their electricity bills.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of NESol, Garfield Daley, said the agency is making every effort to have electricity available to all Jamaicans across the island.

“We are 95 per cent of fulfilling our mandate. We are making every effort to go into every nook and corner of the length and breadth of Jamaica to bring electricity,” he said, while encouraging the residents to make good use of the electricity provided.

For his part, Minister of Local Government and Community Development and Member of Parliament for South West Clarendon, Hon. Noel Arscott, expressed appreciation on behalf of his constituency.

He said the provision of electricity will enable students to do their homework in comfort, enhance the safety and security of residents, and facilitate investment in the community.

Parnell Scott, a resident of the community, expressed gratitude for receiving this “gift”.

“It is one of the greatest things to ever happen in South West Clarendon. The light will make the area more secure and the citizens will be able to see. We appreciate the light; it is a good thing for the citizenry,” he said.