Addressing the rising number of damages caused to light poles as a result of careless driving, Works Minister, Desmond Bannister, said the Ministry of Works had to pay over $200,000 to replace light poles.
“Regrettably, more and more these innocent, stationary light poles were becoming victims of careless drivers in inordinately large numbers,” he said.
“In 2015 the Ministry of Works was forced to enter into a contract to pay $248,823.25 to replace damaged light poles on the Airport Gateway; on Tonique Darling Highway, on the six legged roundabout; on the road between Government High School (GHS) and [UB]; on the highway west of GHS; and on the highway to Saunders Beach due mainly to the negligence of careless drivers,” said the Minister.
According to Mr. Bannister, prior to January of this year, the Ministry of Public Works had been responsible for replacing these damaged light poles.
However, in January, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) has assumed this responsibility.
“My ministry is responsible for an additional $93,842.15, which is the sum that is required to replace additional light poles that have now been destroyed by irresponsible drivers,” he said.
“BPL has now advised me that they are now responsible for replacing 88 damaged poles.
“However, to date they have replaced 34 poles, which means that 54 more must be replaced.”
Mr. Bannister said that number continues to rise on a daily basis.
“BPL continues to await the arrival of their latest shipment of poles at a current cost of $1,947 per 30ftpole,” he said.
According to the minister, when the next shipment arrives, poles must be replaced throughout New Providence, but particularly on Bay Street, the Airport Gateway, Tonique Williams Highway, Bethel Avenue, Sir. Milo Butler Highway, and East West Highway.
“We cannot continue in this manner. I, therefore, take this opportunity to beg my fellow commuters to exercise care as we traverse the roads, and to report persons who they witness hitting poles,” Bannister said.
“There are better uses for our tax money than continually replacing light poles that have been destroyed by uncaring drivers.”
